May be important in developing and maintaining corneal transparency and for the structure of the stromal matrix. Cornea (at protein level) (PubMed:10802664, PubMed:11683372). Increased expression in the stroma of keratoconus corneas (PubMed:11683372). Also detected in trachea, and in low levels, in intestine, skeletal muscle, ovary, lung and putamen (PubMed:10802664). Binds keratan sulfate chains. The disease is caused by variants affecting the gene represented in this entry. Belongs to the small leucine-rich proteoglycan (SLRP) family. SLRP class II subfamily.