Evaluation of scleral and corneal thickness in keratoconus patients.

PURPOSE

To determine whether the scleral stroma is affected as much as the corneal stroma in keratoconus.

SETTING

University Eye Clinic, Bern, Switzerland.

DESIGN

Comparative case-control study.

METHODS

Eyes with keratoconus (keratoconus group) and eyes of age-, sex-, and axial length-matched controls (control group) were analyzed. Corneal videokeratometry and pachymetry were performed using a Scheimpflug tomographer (Pentacam). For measurements of the peripheral cornea and the anterior sclera, a spectral-domain anterior segment optical coherence tomography device (Spectralis) was used.

RESULTS

The study group comprised 51 eyes and the control group, 50 eyes. The mean central corneal thickness in the keratoconus group was statistically significantly lower than in the control group (447.8 μm ± 57.8 [SD] versus 550.5 ± 35.5 μm) (P < .0001). No significant difference in the mean anterior scleral thickness was found between the keratoconus group and the control group (479.1 ± 43.7 μm versus 474.2 ± 43.0 μm) (P =.57).

CONCLUSION

Although corneal thinning was observed in keratoconus patients, the anterior scleral stroma thickness in these patients seemed to be similar to that in healthy control eyes.