Abstract
Purpose: :
To evaluate the utility of anterior segment optical coherence tomography AS-OCT (Carl Zeiss Meditec, Inc, Dublin, CA) for in-vivo imaging and monitoring of corneal dystrophies
Methods: :
Five patients with different corneal dystrophies were examined with the AS-OCT: two patients (3 eyes) with epithelial dystrophies, two patients (4 eyes) with Fuchs` dystrophy and one patient (2 eyes) with posterior polymorphous dystrophy. The patients were followed over 12 months with repeat OCTs at each follow up visit. AS-OCT provides high-resolution, detailed images of the cornea including the corneal epithelium, stroma and Descemet’s membrane. The size, location and appearance of corneal changes were thus documented and monitored in these patients.
Results: :
The high resolution imaging of different corneal components allowed observation of fine structures and details, providing an accurate assessment of the location, size and shape of various deposits or irregularities in different corneal layers. The AS OCT also helps in monitoring subtle progression of disease like Fuchs` dystrophy by measuring the corneal thickness secondary to edema
Conclusions: :
Anterior segment OCT provides significant clinical value by visualizing anatomical changes in different corneal dystrophies. In vivo measurement of epithelial thickness profile and observation of subtle corneal alterations expands the applications of AS-OCT for corneal imaging. Being noninvasive technique, it can be a useful tool for follow up of selected corneal dystrophies like Fuchs` dystrophy. This is the first report to our knowledge of using the AC-OCT for monitoring in time selected cases of corneal dystrophies.
Keywords: cornea: clinical science • anterior segment • imaging/image analysis: clinical