Corneal densitometry analysis in patients diagnosed with keratoconus

AbstractPurposeThe purpose of this study is to carry out a comparative study of corneal densitometry (COD) using Pentacam HR in two groups of patients. A control group of normal eyes where corneal pathology has been ruled out and another group of patients diagnosed with keratoconus (KC) who have not received corneal Cross‐Linking as treatment.MethodsThe sample consists of 30 eyes diagnosed with keratoconus compared to 30 eyes with normal corneas (N). The results are studied using Pentacam HR, which has a double Scheimpflug chamber. Patients are classified into 2 groups, ruling out corneal pathology in the control group. COD is measured in a 12mm diameter area, divided into concentric annular zones and different depths. COD is used to describe the characteristics of corneal tissue and makes it possible to quantify the degree of transparency of the corneal tissue.ResultsThere are significant differences between the groups after the COD examination. In the average of rings and total layers, an increase in total COD is observed in the eyes diagnosed with keratoconus compared to the normal ones (N = 15.71, KC = 21.05). When studied in layers, an increase in densitometry is also seen in the keratoconus group. The front layer (N = 21.61, KC = 29.13), the middle layer (N = 14.49, KC = 18.70) and the back layer (N = 11.04, KC = 14.57).ConclusionsThe corneal densitometry map shows total higher values in eyes with keratoconus compared to healthy eyes. The difference is most marked in the anterior layer of the cornea.References1. Maurice DM. The structure and transparency of the cornea. J Physiol. 1957;136:263–286.2. Shen Y, Han T, Jhanji V, Shang J, Zhao J, Li M, et al. Correlation between corneal topographic, densitometry, and biomechanical parameters in keratoconus eyes. Transl Vis Sci Technol. 2019;8(3):12.3. Rabinowitz YS. Keratoconus. Surv Ophthalmol. 1998;42(4):297–319.4. Lopes B, Ramos I, Ambrósio R Jr. Corneal densitometry in keratoconus. Cornea. 2014;33(12):1282–6.5. Koc M, Tekin K, Tekin MI, Uzel MM, Kosekahya P, Ozulken K, et al. An early finding of keratoconus: Increase in corneal densitometry: Increase in corneal densitometry. Cornea. 2018;37(5):580–6.