Industry

Glaukos Launches Campaign With NBA Champ Stephen Curry to Raise Awareness of Keratoconus

Vision Monday3d ago1 min read

ALISO VIEJO, Calif.—Glaukos Corporation (NYSE: GKOS), an ophthalmic pharmaceutical and med-tech company focused on novel therapies for the treatment of glaucoma, corneal disorders, and retinal diseases, has announced the launch of “Could it be KC?,” a new disease awareness and educational campaign. The initiative, offering a selection of activities planned in 2027, aims to improve recognition and support the earlier detection of keratoconus (KC), a rare, progressive, sight-threatening corneal disease that can often go undiagnosed and untreated.

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AI Summary

Quick Take

Glaukos Corporation has partnered with NBA champion Stephen Curry to launch “Could it be KC?,” a national awareness campaign focused on the early detection of keratoconus. The initiative aims to educate the public on this progressive, sight-threatening corneal disease, which frequently goes undiagnosed during its most treatable stages.

Why It Matters

Keratoconus often masquerades as simple refractive error or worsening astigmatism in its early phases, leading many patients to miss the window for interventions like corneal cross-linking that can halt progression. By leveraging a high-profile athlete like Stephen Curry—who has publicly managed the condition himself—Glaukos is attempting to shift the narrative from reactive management to proactive screening. For the eye care community, this high-visibility campaign will likely drive more symptomatic patients into clinics specifically asking about corneal health, emphasizing the importance of topography in routine care for young or progressing patients.

Key Details

The 'Could it be KC?' campaign is a multi-year educational initiative designed to improve recognition of keratoconus symptoms.
NBA star Stephen Curry serves as the lead ambassador, sharing his personal journey with the disease to encourage earlier eye exams.
The campaign addresses the clinical challenge of keratoconus being a rare but progressive disease that is often overlooked in standard vision screenings.
Glaukos, a leader in corneal health and glaucoma therapies, is the primary sponsor and organizer of the outreach efforts.
The initiative includes a structured rollout of activities and educational resources planned through 2027.

Practice Implications

Clinicians should be prepared for an increase in patient inquiries regarding keratoconus and may want to lower their threshold for performing corneal topography on patients with fluctuating vision or increasing astigmatism. This campaign provides a natural opening for practitioners to discuss the importance of specialized imaging and the availability of modern treatments that can prevent the need for future corneal transplants.

Who's Affected

OptometristsCornea SpecialistsContact Lens FittersPediatric OptometristsPractice Owners

What's Next

While the campaign has been officially announced, the full suite of educational activities is slated to roll out through 2027. Practitioners can expect to see more patient-facing materials and digital outreach that may drive increased demand for comprehensive corneal evaluations in the coming years.

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