Sometimes The Solution Is Just Right In Front Of Us ; Corneal Volume Distribution: A Topographic Index For The Detection Of Keratoconus In The Moroccan Population

To assess corneal volume (CV) in normal and keratoconic eyes to better understand the tissue distribution associated with this disease

Ophtalmology department at HASSAN II university hospital, Fez. Morocco, SIDI MOHAMED BEN ABDELLAH university Fez Morocco

151 eyes with mild to moderate keratoconus (45 with mild keratotonus and 106 with moderate keratoconus) based on Keratoconus Severity Score (KSS), 28 eyes with keratoconus suspect, and 89 normal eyes were all assessed with topography Pentacam Scheimpflug (Oculus Inc.), used to analyze corneal volume in 3, 5, 7 and 10 mm diameter.

The average corneal volume at 3 mm is 3.9 ± 0.26 mm3 in normal eyes, 3.56 ± 0.11 mm3 in keratoconus suspect, 3.46 ± 0.19 mm3 in mild keratoconus and 3.36 ± 0.2 in moderate keratoconus. Comparing the mean CV at the center of 3 mm among the 4 groups with an ANOVA analysis showed that the difference between the four groups was statistically significant (p = 0.001). in the 5, 7, and 10mm we found a significant difference (p = 0.001) between the normal cornea group and the other groups but there is no significant difference between the different groups of keratoconic patients

The thinning of the cornea in the keracotonus can explain the decrease in corneal volume whether in the confirmed keracotonus or the suspects forms. This analysis in Moroccan corneas confirms that corneal volume could help as a valid index for diagnosing suspect, mild and moderate keracotonus. These findings can help in the assessment of refractive surgery, and can be a detector element of keratoconus