PURPOSE

To perform tear meniscus particle analysis using anterior segment spectral domain-optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) and ImageJ software in keratoconus patients.

METHODS

A total of 76 participants (76 eyes) were included in the study. A comprehensive analysis of tear meniscus parameters, including tear meniscus height (TMH), tear meniscus depth (TMD), tear meniscus turbidity (TMT), and percentage of area occupied by particles (PAOP) within the meniscus, was performed in kerataconus patients and healthy controls.

RESULTS

TMT was significantly higher in the keratoconus group, while PAOP was significantly lower (P < 0.05). However, TMH and TMD did not show significant differences between the two groups (P > 0.05). There was a negative correlation observed between TMT and PAOP. In binary logistic regression analysis, TMT and Schirmer score were found to be the most influential factors in predicting keratoconus (odds ratio [OR] = 0.995, P = 0.039 and OR = 1.143, P = 0.021, respectively).

CONCLUSION

This study revealed novel findings on analysis of the tear film in keratoconus patients, with higher TMT and lower POAP levels in the keratoconus group compared to the healthy control group.