Evaluation of corneal epithelial thickness in glaucomatous patients using anterior‐segment optical coherence tomography

Abstract

The corneal epithelium represents one of the main structures that undergo degenerative alterations due to antiglaucomatous therapy. Chronic glaucoma therapy containing benzalkonium chloride induces epithelial cellular changes and inflammatory infiltration that in turn causes ocular surface changes resulting in ocular discomfort. Also, age‐related changes can involve the tear film stability and the corneal epithelium surface with reduction of microvilli. The objective of this study is to gain insights about the changes in corneal epithelium in glaucomatous patients divided according to age, type and duration of therapy using anterior‐segment optical coherence tomography (AS‐OCT). This study evaluated a total of 81 eyes of 42 patients for whom corneal epithelium thickness (CET) was measured in different sectors of the cornea. Our results showed no significant differences in CET among patients divided according to type and duration of treatment, while younger patients showed a thinner CET in comparison with older patients. AS‐OCT results demonstrated that the physiological age‐related alterations contributed to corneal epithelium changes in patients undergo chronic antiglaucoma therapy.

Evaluation of corneal structures in myopic eyes more than twenty‐two years after photorefractive keratectomy

“…Each CET map was divided into 17 sectors: a central sector 0 to 2 mm in diameter, 8 paracentral sectors from 2 to 5 mm in diameter and 8 peripheral sectors from 5 to 6 mm in diameter. [ 13 ]…”

“…Each CET map was divided into 17 sectors: a central sector 0 to 2 mm in diameter, 8 paracentral sectors from 2 to 5 mm in diameter and 8 peripheral sectors from 5 to 6 mm in diameter. [13] 2.3 | Scheimpflug densitometry CD analysis was provided as an add-on to the standard software of the Pentacam HR type 70 900 with a rotating Scheimpflug camera (Oculus Optikgeräte GmbH). The measurement protocol took a series of 25 images (1003 × 520 pixels) over different meridians with a uniform blue light source.…”

“…[11,12] AS-OCT represents a useful method to monitoring the alterations of CET covering the 6 mm diameter area. [13] The CD is evaluated on the intensity of backscattering light in different corneal sectors. [14,15] Pentacam Scheimpflug system allows to measure CD not only at the central apex but also at peripheral corneal areas outside the treatment sector.…”

Confocal Microscopy and Anterior Segment Optical Coherence Tomography Imaging of the Ocular Surface and Bleb Morphology in Medically and Surgically Treated Glaucoma Patients: A Review

“…Differently, a recent study did not find significant differences in corneal epithelial thickness among patients under different types and durations of treatment, while the only factor influencing corneal epithelial thickness was represented by age [ 77 ]. In a similar study, Dogan et al [ 78 ] reported that there was no significant correlation between corneal thickness and glaucoma type, duration of therapy, number of drugs, and daily drops.…”

“…Discording results in the corneal thickness parameters at AS-OCT o with regard to the number of drugs used [ 76 , 77 , 78 ]…”