Keratoconus patients want what everyone wants - freedom from glasses and contacts, and with that, giving them a realistic roadmap instead of false hope. That's where corneal patients starts having opinions.
At ASCRS 2026, a case-based symposium rewrote the keratoconus playbook: from spotting the signs before topography flags it, to epi-on crosslinking's game-changing FDA approval, to knowing exactly when a CTAK beats a transplant and when the pinhole occluder is your most underrated tool in the cataract suite.
Spoiler: The old rule that keratoconus stabilizes after age 40? Still not true.
At the ASCRS 2026 Annual Meeting, held from 10–13 April in Washington, D.C., keratoconus management shifted focus from mere disease stabilisation to active visual restoration. Key themes included earlier intervention through lower progression thresholds and the introduction of reconstructive surgical techniques like Corneal Tissue Addition Keratoplasty (CTAK). [1, 2, 3]
Key Keratoconus Highlights at ASCRS 2026
- Epioxa Approval & Launch: A major milestone was the FDA approval of Epioxa (Glaukos), a topical, epithelium-on (incision-free) cross-linking therapy. It became commercially available in early 2026 and received a permanent J-code effective 1 July 2026, facilitating broader patient access.
- CTAK (Corneal Tissue Addition Keratoplasty): This reconstructive approach involves adding donor tissue to reshape the cornea rather than removing it. Clinical sessions highlighted its ability to achieve significant corneal flattening (8 to 15 diopters) and improve visual acuity with or without glasses.
- Refractive Options & Sequencing: Specialists discussed a new "keratoconus playbook" that sequences interventions like cross-linking with topography-guided PRK or implantable collamer lenses (ICL) to provide patients with better functional vision.
- Early Detection Tools: The BOSS Brillouin Optical Scanning System (Intelon Optics) was showcased as a method to measure corneal biomechanics, potentially allowing for even earlier diagnosis before significant structural changes occur. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
For those who missed the live event, sessions are available on the ASCRS 2026 Annual Meeting On Demand platform, which includes over 200 recorded presentations and posters. [1]