Abstract
Purpose :
To investigate chronological corneal biomechanical changes in fellow eyes with normal topography from patients with very asymmetric ectasia (VAE) for 3 years.
Methods :
The clinical records of patients with VAE were retrospectively reviewed. Patients with VAE were defined as having clinical ectasia in one eye and a fellow eye with normal topography. Corneal biomechanical assessment with high-speed dynamic Scheimpflug-based corneal imaging was performed at baseline and at each follow-up visit in each eye. The deformation amplitude ratio within 2 mm, integrated radius, Ambrósio relational thickness to the horizontal profile, stiffness parameter at the first applanation (SPA1), Corvis Biomechanical Index (CBI), stress–strain index (SSI), and tomographic/biomechanical index were used to investigate the chronological changes in biomechanical parameters. Linear mixed-effects models were used to evaluate changes in biomechanical and clinical parameters over time.
Results :
Thirty patients (17 men, 13 women) with VAE met the study criteria. The patients’ age at baseline examination was 46.4 ± 14.4 years. Significant changes in SPA1, CBI, and SSI (p = 0.048, p = 0.012, and p=0.011, respectively) were observed during the 3-year period, and only SSI showed a decreasing trend over time. There were no significant changes in other corneal biomechanical parameters and clinical parameters during the 3-year period. A significant association between the SSI and age at initial biomechanical assessment. (p<0.001)
Conclusions :
Based on corneal biomechanical evaluation over a 3-year period, possible corneal softening in such eyes was observed, highlighting the characteristics of progressive ectatic corneal disorder even in a subclinical status. Future studies using a longer follow-up period are required.
This abstract was presented at the 2022 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in Denver, CO, May 1-4, 2022, and virtually.