Abstract
Purpose :
To investigate a possible association between dynamic corneal response (DCR) parameters and the severity of the disease in high and normal pressure open angle glaucoma patients.
Methods :
In this prospective cross-sectional study, we recruited 27 age-matched patients with high pressure glaucoma (HPG), 27 with normal pressure (NPG) glaucoma and 24 controls. Glaucoma severity was based on mean deviation (MD) and was considered as early glaucomatous with a MD > -6dB, moderate between - 6dB and - 12dB and advanced with a MD < -12dB. Corvis ST data (Oculus GmbH, Wetzlar, Germany) from both eyes were included, if quality criteria were sufficient. Linear mixed models were used for statistical analysis to account for the correlation between both eyes.
Results :
The DCR parameters tested, like HC Time, DA Ratio Prog, Pachy, and bIOP, showed no difference between the MD groups in HPG and NPG. Only Pachyslope, which describes the difference in corneal thickness from the center towards the periphery, was statistically significantly lower in advanced cases (22.69±11.12µm) compared to moderate (26.34±7.72µm) and early cases (29.44±8.95µm). This difference was statistically significant (P=0.001).
Conclusions :
DCR parameters, except for Pachyslope, are not correlated with the severity of glaucomatous visual field defects in this study. This finding is somewhat unexpected, since there is speculation that corneal biomechanics are altered in the course of the disease. Probably DCR parameters correlate better with structural parameters than with functional parameters.
This abstract was presented at the 2019 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in Vancouver, Canada, April 28 - May 2, 2019.