Sukhee Nomuundari, Namba Hiroyuki, Ikeda Marie, Ichinohasama Sera, Kurihara Tomoyuki, Okamoto Nene, Yoshida Junko, Usui Tomohiko
Department of Ophthalmology, International University of Health and Welfare School of Medicine, Narita City, Chiba, Japan.
Department of Ophthalmology, International University of Health and Welfare Narita Hospital, Narita City, Chiba, Japan.
Sci Rep. 2025 Jul 1;15(1):22203. doi: 10.1038/s41598-025-07663-6.
This study investigated corneal epithelial thickness and its distribution in keratoconus (KC) and forme fruste keratoconus (FFK). A total of 35 KC eyes, 25 FFK eyes, and 35 control eyes underwent anterior segment-optical coherence tomography for corneal epithelial evaluation. Sixty KC eyes were included for the assessment of epithelial changes according to KC severity. Epithelial thickness in the central, paracentral, and peripheral areas-each subdivided into eight zones-was statistically analysed. Minimum, maximum, and average epithelial thicknesses were reduced in KC eyes, especially in the inferior and inferior-temporal zones. Standard deviations were greater in KC eyes across nearly all zones. In FFK and KC eyes, the differences between superior and inferior epithelial thickness were significantly altered compared to control eyes. According to the Amsler-Krumeich classification, more advanced KC stages were associated with greater corneal thinning. Epithelial heterogeneity decreased in the central and paracentral area as a result of superior epithelial thinning, whereas it increased in the peripheral area with KC progression. Epithelial thickness and distribution were altered in KC and even in FFK eyes with normal topography. Different stages of KC may exhibit distinct epithelial remodelling patterns.
本研究调查了圆锥角膜（KC）和顿挫型圆锥角膜（FFK）的角膜上皮厚度及其分布情况。共有35只KC患眼、25只FFK患眼和35只对照眼接受了眼前节光学相干断层扫描以评估角膜上皮。纳入60只KC患眼，根据KC严重程度评估上皮变化。对中央、旁中央和周边区域（每个区域再细分为8个区）的上皮厚度进行了统计学分析。KC患眼的最小、最大和平均上皮厚度均降低，尤其是在下方和颞下区域。几乎所有区域的KC患眼标准差都更大。与对照眼相比，FFK和KC患眼上下方上皮厚度的差异有显著改变。根据Amsler-Krumeich分类，更晚期的KC阶段与更严重的角膜变薄相关。由于上方上皮变薄，中央和旁中央区域的上皮异质性降低，而随着KC进展，周边区域的上皮异质性增加。KC甚至地形图正常的FFK患眼中，上皮厚度和分布均发生改变。不同阶段的KC可能表现出不同的上皮重塑模式。
