BACKGROUND: In keratoconus (KC) a progressive deformation and thinning of the cornea occurs. In contrast to Scheimpflug-based examinations, optical coherence tomography (OCT) can precisely measure the corneal layers separately, allowing separate analyses of corneal epithelial and corneal stromal thicknesses. AIM OF THIS WORK: The aim of this work was to analyze the corneal epithelial thickness measured by optical coherence tomography (OCT) in patients with KC in comparison to the corneal epithelial thickness in healthy subjects. The diagnostic value of the observed changes was evaluated. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In a retrospective analysis 125 eyes of patients with KC and 140 eyes of healthy subjects were included. Corneal measurements were performed by OCT (Optovue, XR-Avanti, Fremont, CA, USA). Corneal stromal thicknesses and corneal epithelial thicknesses in different locations were measured and analyzed. RESULTS: There were significant differences in stromal and epithelial thickness measurements. Of the derived epithelial thickness parameters four showed a good discriminatory power between healthy controls and KC patients (area under the curve in the receiver operating characteristic analysis > 0.7). CONCLUSION: Patients with KC showed an altered epithelial thickness compared to healthy controls. The derived calculated parameters based on corneal epithelial thickness can distinguish between KC and a healthy cornea.
BACKGROUND: In keratoconus (KC) a progressive deformation and thinning of the cornea occurs. In contrast to Scheimpflug-based examinations, optical coherence tomography (OCT) can precisely measure the corneal layers separately, allowing separate analyses of corneal epithelial and corneal stromal thicknesses. AIM OF THIS WORK: The aim of this work was to analyze the corneal epithelial thickness measured by optical coherence tomography (OCT) in patients with KC in comparison to the corneal epithelial thickness in healthy subjects. The diagnostic value of the observed changes was evaluated. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In a retrospective analysis 125 eyes of patients with KC and 140 eyes of healthy subjects were included. Corneal measurements were performed by OCT (Optovue, XR-Avanti, Fremont, CA, USA). Corneal stromal thicknesses and corneal epithelial thicknesses in different locations were measured and analyzed. RESULTS: There were significant differences in stromal and epithelial thickness measurements. Of the derived epithelial thickness parameters four showed a good discriminatory power between healthy controls and KC patients (area under the curve in the receiver operating characteristic analysis > 0.7). CONCLUSION: Patients with KC showed an altered epithelial thickness compared to healthy controls. The derived calculated parameters based on corneal epithelial thickness can distinguish between KC and a healthy cornea.
Authors: Dan Z Reinstein; Marine Gobbe; Timothy J Archer; Ronald H Silverman; D Jackson Coleman Journal: J Refract Surg Date: 2010-04-07 Impact factor: 3.573
Authors: Dan Z Reinstein; Timothy J Archer; Marine Gobbe; Ronald H Silverman; D Jackson Coleman Journal: J Refract Surg Date: 2009-09-11 Impact factor: 3.573
Authors: Yan Li; Winston Chamberlain; Ou Tan; Robert Brass; Jack L Weiss; David Huang Journal: J Cataract Refract Surg Date: 2016-02 Impact factor: 3.351