Despite adjustments for possible confounders, ADHD, or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, was determined to be linked with the presence of keratoconus (KCN) in male patients in a large population-based, cross-sectional JAMA Ophthalmology study comprised of male and female adolescents and adults.1
Specifically, after adjusting for age, sex, intellectual status, height, and weight, male patients with a mean age of 17.56 who had KCN were more likely to have the ADHD diagnosis vs. those in the general population. Overall, KCN was identified in 1533 individuals, with a prevalence of 0.16%, according to the study.
The study was made up of the medical records of 940,763 Israeli adolescents and adults serving in the military from Jan. 2011 to Dec. 2021.
While the study’s researchers could not determine a causative effect, they noted the findings “support further investigation into the potential value of education regarding eye rubbing in this population.”
1. Safir M, Hecht I, Heller D, et al. Psychiatric Comorbidities Associated With Keratoconus. JAMA Ophthalmol. Nov 9. doi: 10.1001/jamaophthalmol.2023.5176. Online ahead of print.