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Announcing the First-Ever Keratoconus Week

From March 23 to March 29, 2026, Prevent Blindness is proud to launch the inaugural Keratoconus Week, a groundbreaking initiative aimed at raising awareness and educating both the public and healthcare professionals about keratoconus, a prevalent eye disease. The event will provide a range of free resources, including fact sheets and flyers in both English and Spanish, along with a dedicated webpage and engaging graphics for social media distribution.

Keratoconus is an eye condition characterized by a thinning and weakening of the cornea, which ultimately leads to an irregular shape and, consequently, distorted vision. Statistics from the Moran Eye Center at the University of Utah Health reveal that keratoconus is the most common form of corneal dystrophy in the United States, infecting approximately one in 2,000 Americans. This condition is particularly prevalent in teenagers and young adults, often surfacing in their late teenage years or early twenties.

Understanding Keratoconus

The disease manifests through a variety of symptoms, which may include:

• - Blurred vision
• - Regular updates in eyeglasses prescription
• - Frequent squinting and headaches
• - Light sensitivity and glare
• - An urge to rub the eyes
• - Difficulty seeing at night

At this time, there is no definitive cure for keratoconus. However, with early detection and prompt intervention, significant sight loss can be prevented. Treatment options available include the fitting of scleral lenses or rigid gas permeable contact lenses, alongside a specialized procedure known as corneal crosslinking (CXL). This one-hour treatment merges riboflavin (Vitamin B) eye drops with ultraviolet light to help halt the progression of keratoconus. For the most critical cases, corneal transplants—which involve substituting a diseased cornea with a healthy one from a donor—are available.

Jeff Todd, President and CEO of Prevent Blindness, emphasizes the urgency for collective action: "The key to preserving vision from keratoconus and many other sight-related conditions lies in early detection coupled with accessible treatment options. We urge patients to collaborate closely with their eye care professionals to develop a tailored treatment regime that caters to their individual needs."

For those seeking further information about keratoconus, Prevent Blindness encourages visits to PreventBlindness.org/keratoconus. Moreover, individuals looking for assistance in vision care can consult PreventBlindness.org/vision-care-financial-assistance-information for resources available in both English and Spanish.

About Prevent Blindness

As the nation’s premier organization dedicated to eye health and safety, Prevent Blindness is committed to the prevention of blindness and the advancement of sight preservation efforts. Through raising awareness of eye health’s importance as related to overall well-being, advocating for robust eye health policies, and providing professional education, the organization empowers individuals living with vision loss. Supported by an extensive network of affiliates, volunteers, and compassionate members of the community, Prevent Blindness delivers free resources that address a comprehensive spectrum of eye diseases considerably impacting vision and quality of life.

For comprehensive insights, visit PreventBlindness.org, and join the conversation on social media platforms including Facebook, X, Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok, and YouTube.