Abstract
Purpose :
This study aimed to quantify corneal opacity in Stevens–Johnson syndrome (SJS) using anterior segment optical coherence tomography (AS-OCT) and identify corneal opacity-associated clinical factors.
Methods :
This study included 21 eyes of 16 patients with SJS (mean age; 49.9 ± 17.5 years) at Tokyo Dental College Ichikawa General Hospital from January 2011 to October 2022. Three-dimensional densitometry values of corneal opacity in the superficial (50 μm and 200 μm from the epithelial surface) and deep stromal layers (200 μm and 100 μm from the endothelial surface) were determined using AS-OCT within the central area of 3-and 6-mm diameters. We evaluated the correlations among corneal densitometry, visual acuity, and clinical severity scores, such as corneal keratinization score, conjunctival hyperemia, and neovascularization.
Results :
The densitometry values for the superficial (50 μm and 200 μm) and deep stromal layers (200 μm and 100 μm) were 141.2 ± 33.5, 143 ± 29.1, 117 ± 26.3, and 113.7 ± 23.6 within the 3mm diameter, respectively, and 132.8 ± 32.8, 131.5 ± 31.6, 97.5 ± 26, and 94.9 ± 23.4 within the 6mm diameter, respectively. There was no significant difference between the superficial layer of 50 µm and 200 µm at 3 mm (p = 0.63); however, other densitometry values were significantly higher in the superficial layer than in the deep layer (p < 0.01). Additionally, the densitometry value in the deep layer (6 mm, 200μm from the endothelial surface) was significantly positively correlated with the intracorneal neovascularization score (r = 0.68, p < 0.0025). The densitometry value in the superficial layer (6mm, 50μm from the epithelial surface) was significantly correlated with corneal keratinization score (r = 0.71), conjunctival hyperemia score (r = 0.66), and visual acuity (r = 0.70, all p < 0.0025).
Conclusions :
Three-dimensional densitometry values of corneal opacity in various layers can be objectively measured in SJS using AS-OCT, which may be useful in determining the treatment indication, and can reflect SJS severity, such as intracorneal neovascularization, conjunctival hyperemia, and corneal keratinization.
This abstract was presented at the 2024 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in Seattle, WA, May 5-9, 2024.