Top 100 Highly Cited Articles on Keratoconus: A Bibliometric Analysis

Abstract

Keratoconus is a progressive corneal ectasia with evolving concepts in pathophysiology, diagnosis, and management. Analysis of highly cited literature can identify influential publications and provide insights into research trends in the field. This study aimed to identify and analyse the 100 most cited articles on keratoconus and describe the major areas of keratoconus research. A cross-sectional bibliometric analysis was performed using Google Scholar through Harzing’s Publish or Perish software. The search terms included “keratoconus,” “collagen cross-linking,” “topography,” “keratoplasty,” and “contact lens.” The 100 eligible English-language journal articles with the highest citation counts as of May 2023 were identified and analysed. Citation counts ranged from 265 to 3806. The most cited article was “Keratoconus” by Rabinowitz, with 3806 citations. Articles were published between 1980 and 2017, with a median publication year of 2006. Original articles constituted 75% of publications, and prospective studies were the most common study design (64%). The highly cited articles covered corneal biomechanics, structural assessment, and treatment, particularly corneal collagen cross-linking. Highly cited keratoconus literature reflects research across diagnosis, corneal biomechanics, structural assessment, and therapeutic interventions, highlighting the diverse areas of research in keratoconus management.