[Paying attention to the timing and methods of minimally invasive surgery for the treatment of keratoconus].

Keratoconus is the most common blinding eye disease among young adults. The treatment methods comprise non-surgical interventions (in the early stage) and surgical interventions (in the advanced stage). Surgical approaches mainly include minimally invasive procedures such as corneal collagen cross-linking and minimally invasive lamellar keratoplasty, as well as more invasive procedures like lamellar or deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty and penetrating keratoplasty. As keratoconus progresses, the optimal timing and selection of surgical methods warrant focused attention and discussion. This article proposes three guiding principles on the selection of minimally invasive surgical approaches and the timing for keratoconus: 1) minimizing surgical trauma, 2) enhancing procedural precision, and 3) appropriately advancing the timing of surgical intervention. Through in-depth discussions, these principles aim to provide valuable references and clinical guidance for ophthalmic practice.