CORNEAL TOMOGRAPHIC AND DENSITOMETRIC CHARACTERISTICS IN CHILDREN WITH ALLERGIC CONJUNCTIVITIS: A COMPARATIVE PENTACAM AXL STUDY

 To evaluate corneal tomographic and densitometric parameters in children with allergic conjunctivitis using the Pentacam AXL (OCULUS Inc., Germany) system and to identify the most sensitive  topographic indicators of early corneal changes in ocular allergy.

Department of Ophtalmology, Istanbul University, Istanbul Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul/ Türkiye

 This cross-sectional study included 64 eyes of 32 children with allergic conjunctivitis (Group 1) and 40 eyes of 20 age- and sex-matched healthy controls (Group 2). Only participants with spherical equivalent between +4.00 and –4.00 diopters and cylindrical values up to –2.00 D were included to minimize refractive bias. Corneal keratometric, pachymetric, elevation, ectasia, densitometric, and asphericity (Q value) parameters were obtained using the Pentacam AXL (OCULUS Inc., Germany). Data were analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics 28.0 (IBM Corp., Chicago, IL, USA), and p<0.05 was considered statistically significant.

No significant differences were found between groups in age, sex, intraocular pressure, keratometric parameters (K1, K2, Kmax), pachymetry, or elevation indices (p>0.05). Ectasia indices including ISV, IVA, KI, and CKI were comparable. However, the mean Q value was significantly more negative in the allergic group (p=0.03). Corneal densitometry values were also significantly higher across all corneal zones, indicating early microstructural alterations possibly related to allergic inflammation.

 Although keratometric and pachymetric parameters were within normal limits, more negative Q values and elevated densitometry in allergic eyes suggest early corneal remodeling and subclinical stromal changes. Q value and densitometry may serve as sensitive complementary biomarkers for early corneal assessment in pediatric allergic conjunctivitis.