Comparison of corneal epithelial thickness parameters with optical coherence tomography in patients with keratoconus and soft contact lenses users

Abstract

Keratoconus, first reported in 1854, is derived from the Greek words kerato (cornea) and konos (cone). The keratoconus is the most valuable form of primary corneal dislocation. The term refers to bilateral and asymmetric corneal degeneration in which thinning of the corneal position leads to bulging the thin part of cornea.The aim of this study was to compare the parameters of the corneal epithelium layer using the OCT device in patients with keratoconus and patients who have used soft contact lenses. Method and materials: This is a cross-sectional study of patients who were referred to Tabriz Nikukari Hospital in 2019 with a diagnosis of keratoconus and patients who used soft contact lenses. Due to the prevalence of keratoconus in the community, all patients who met the inclusion criteria were evaluated from a clinical record. After collecting the baseline data, statistical analysis was performed using SPSS software version 22 Results: A total of 60 patients were included in the study. Out of 60 patients, 43 were male and 17 were female, with a mean age of 27.1 ± 7.32 years. All patients in the keratoconus group had a doughnut pattern and the patients in the group using contact lenses had a normal pattern. There was no significant relationship between the two groups based on the maximum thickness of the patients' epithelium and maximum corneal thickness. there was significant relationship between the two groups based on minimum thickness of the patient's epithelium, maximum axial power(keratometry), minimum axial power(keratometry), maximum mean corneal power, and minimum corneal thickness.