CHANGES IN CORNEAL BIOMECHANICAL PROPERTIES AFTER PENETRATING CORNEAL INJURY

To examine the changes in corneal biomechanical properties after healing in penetrating corneal injuries and to compare the data with the healthy eyes.

Cross-sectional study.

 Patients with penetrating corneal injury and the time elapsed after surgical repair were at least 6 months were included in the study. Corneal biomechanical properties were evaluated with Corvis^® ST ([Oculus, Wetzlar, Germany], dynamic corneal response parameters, Vinciguerra analysis). Demographic data, time since the operation, examination findings, two different intraocular pressure (IOP) measurements (Goldmann applanation tonometry [GAT] measurement and biomechanically corrected IOP [bIOP]) and corneal biomechanics data were recorded. In the statistical analysis, the data of the eyes with penetrating corneal injury and the healthy eyes were compared.

Fifteen eyes of 15 patients (3 females, 12 males) with a mean age of 50.47 ± 10.3 years (33 –62 years) who underwent penetrating corneal injury repair were included in the study. A control group was formed with the other healthy eyes (n=15) of the same cases. The mean time since penetrating injury repair was 48 ± 30 months (10-100 months). The stiffness parameter in the first applanation point (SP-A1) values were lower in eyes with penetrating injury repair than those in the healthy eyes (p=0,004). There was a moderate negative correlation between the time elapsed after penetrating injury repair and the length of the applanated cornea in the second applanation point (A2 Length) (r = -0,71, p = 0,003). In addition, a negative correlation was found between the size of the penetrating injury and the deformation amplitude (DA) and integrated radius values  (r = -0,608, p = 0.016 ; r = -0,611, p = 0,015, respectively). In healthy eyes, biomechanically corrected IOP values were higher compared to GAT measurements (p=0,029).

In this study, it was observed that there were changes in corneal biomechanical properties after penetrating injury repair, and these changes were related to the time elapsed after surgery and the size of injury. It should be considered that corneal biomechanical changes may affect the accurate measurement of IOP in these patients.