Association of Corneal epithelium map and different stages of keratoconus

Abstract

Keratoconus is a progressive disease that usually occurs in adolescence and the second decade of life. In this disease, the cornea becomes abnormal, progressive, and non-symmetrical in the central part of the throat, and its shape is altered, protruded and cone shaped. The aim of this study was to investigate the correlation of corneal epithelium changes with different stages of keratoconus. Materials and Methods: This study was started after approval by the Research Council of Tabriz University of Medical Sciences and licensed by the Ethics Committee of the University. The present study was descriptive-analytic. All patients with Keratoconus who were referred to Tabriz Hospital during 2017 entered the study. For all patients, a comprehensive eye examination including visual acuity assessment, refractive errors, grade keratoconus was compared through a pentacam machine characterized by corneal epithelium changes that was obtained using an optovue device to determine the relationship between changes in corneal epithelium with different stages Check keratoconus. All data obtained was entered into the researcher's checklist. All information was evaluated using SPSS v. 18 software. Results: There was no significant difference in the thickness of corneal epithelium between the two sexes. In contrast, age and thickness changes of corneal epithelium in patients with corneal thickness and corneal thickness were significantly different (p = 0.035, r = -0.308). In other cases, no significant correlation was found between age and thickness changes of corneal epithelium. Also, in the present study, there was a significant relationship between corneal thickness changes in both left and right eyes, measured by the optovue device, with a stance measured by the pentacam machine.