Epithelial Thickness Profile In Keratoconus Eyes Depending On The Severity

Published 2025 - 43rd Congress of the ESCRS

Reference: PP02.03 | Type: Free paper | DOI: 10.82333/10ag-0s14

Authors: Huafang Guo* ¹

¹Aier Eye Hospital of Wuhan University,Wuhan,China

Purpose

To evaluate epithelial thickness parameters in keratoconus eyes depending on the disease's severity to generate normative data.

Setting

Research Department at Ofttalmosalud, Instituto de Ojos, Lima, Peru.

Methods

245 eyes were included in the study. A transversal, consecutive case-series study was performed between January 2022 and January 2023. Combined Placido and OCT (MS-39, CSO, Florence, Italy) evaluating maximum epithelial thickness (MaxET), minimum stromal thickness (MinST), Minimum epithelial thickness (MinET), epithelial thickness at the Kmax (EpiKmax), epithelial thickness at the apex of the cone (EpiApex). KC eyes were graded according to the mean K from of the Amsler Krumeich classification in grade I <48 D; II 48-53 D; III 54-55 D; and IV > 55 D, for subgroups analysis.

Results

Mean MinEP was 44.50 +/- 5.74 um (31-74), MaxEP was 60.24 +/- 5.42 (49-82). 56.3% (138/245), 17.6% (43/245), 11.4% (28/245), and 14.7% (36/245) were KC grade I, II, III, and IV, respectively. There were significant differences for MinET, MaxT, and MinST between the four KC's grades; SD was greater in stage IV. There was a significant correlation analysis between MinST and Kmax (r = -0.69, p<.001), MinET and Kmax (r = -0.63, p <.001) and MaxET and Kmax (r=0.21, p <.001), MinET and MinST (r= +0.49, p<.001) y entre MaxET and MinST (r= -0.23, p <.001).

Conclusions

Epithelial thinning is a widespread finding in mild KC cases. However, this finding is not as frequent in advanced KC cases, where there is a great variability in the cone's apex