Corneal imaging and densitometry measurements in keratoconus patients to monitor disease progression and treatment outcomes after contact lens or Intacs treatment

Abstract

AimThe aim of this study was to compare the pre- and posttreatment corneal densitometry and corneal thickness value of keratoconus (KCN) patients managed via contact lenses (CLs) or by both intrastromal corneal rings and contact lenses.Patients and methodsThis prospective study was performed at the Manchester Royal Eye Hospital, UK. Patients were recruited before treatment and followed up for 12 months. Data of corneal densitometry and corneal thickness were collected using the Oculus Pentacam at the pretreatment visit and posttreatment visit at 12 months.ResultsCorneal clarity significantly differs between both groups at pre treatment at zone 0–2 mm for the anterior layer (P=0.002). The same diversity is present at zone 2–6 mm for the anterior layer (P=0.003) and posterior layer (P=0.008). The corneal clarity diversity found was not statistically significant at 12 months post treatment (P>0.05). Corneal thickness was found to be statistically significantly different between pre treatment and post treatment for the CL group for central corneal thickness (CCT) and thinnest area (P=0.01 and P=0.02), respectively.DiscussionThis study shows that KCN management with Intacs was found to be effective in maintaining corneal clarity for a longer time than that with CL alone. On the other hand, corneal clarity reduces with disease progression in cases managed with CLs only. Analysis of Oculus Pentacam images provides an objective evaluation to monitor the corneal status after these different pathways of management.

Changes in the Optical Corneal Densitometry, Visual Acuity, and Refractive Error after the Annular Intracorneal Inlay Implantation

“…They observed that the mean optical corneal densitometry did not change in the latter group. 25 It is noteworthy that the implanted rings in these three above-mentioned studies were different (segment and complete), which led to different outcomes. Therefore, changes in the amount of optical corneal densitometry can be attributed to the difference in the quality of vision obtained by the patient along with other objective and subjective parameters after implantation of various intracorneal inlays.…”

Densitometry marks delineating the affected area in keratoconus: clinical suitability of a new descriptive system based on its repeatability and reproducibility

“…The densitometry values for the normal population were described in 2013, 20 and changes in backscatter have been seen in multiple pathologies [21][22][23] including dry eye, 24 corneal guttae 25 and bacterial keratitis. 21 Of course, densitometry has been broadly explored in KC, 4,[26][27][28] to evaluate the outcomes of intracorneal ring segments, 29 the haze after collagen cross-linking 12,30,31 or the results of corneal transplantation. 32,33 When we previously reported a new way of visualising the cone based on densitometry, we had no method of standardising its analysis.…”

Influence of eye tilt on corneal densitometry

“…Alejandra Consejo 1 | Marta Jiménez-García 2,3 | Jos J. Rozema 2,3 | Ahmed Abass 4,5 induced by contact lens wear has been associated with transient increased backscatter. [18][19][20] An association of corneal densitometry with the disease has been established in multiple myeloma, 21 Fabry disease 22 and other rare disorders.…”

“…de) has become a benchmark in evaluating corneal densitometry thanks to its availability in clinics worldwide. 5 This provides a powerful tool to investigate both healthy corneas 6 and eye diseases such as keratoconus, [7][8][9][10][11][12] Fuchs endothelial dystrophy, 13 dry eye, 14 pellucid marginal degeneration, 15 high myopia 16 or glaucoma. 17…”