Gene expression of keratocyte-specific markers such as collagen 5 (p < 0.0001 / p = 0.0001), CD34 (p = 0.0073 / p = 0.0001), keratocan (p = 0.0336 / p = 0.0196) and lumican (p = 0.0004 / p = 0.0006) was higher in Keratocytes and KC-Keratocytes compared to HCFs or KC-HCFs. This evidence concerns the gene KERA and keratoconus.