Corneal Biomechanical Properties in Patients with Recurrent Anterior Uveitis

Abstract

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the biomechanical changes in cornea in patients with recurrent anterior uveitis in comparison to healthy controls.

Methods: Eighty-five eyes in 51 patients with inactive recurrent anterior uveitis (25 male, 26 female) and 34 eyes of 34 age-matched control subjects (16 male, 18 female) were included. The following measurements were done and compared between patients and controls: corneal hysteresis, corneal response factor, intraocular pressure, and central corneal thickness.

Results: Patients had significantly lower mean corneal hysteresis (8.57 ± 1.60 versus 10.91 ± 1.41, p = .001) and corneal resistance factor (9.24 ± 1.68 versus 11.56 ± 1.46, p = .001) when compared to controls. Among patients, corneal hysteresis and corneal resistance factor did not correlate with duration of the disease or number of attacks per year.

Conclusions: Anterior uveitis seems to be associated with impaired biomechanical strength of the cornea, although no correlations with the duration of illness or attack frequency could be determined.

KEYWORDS::

• Central corneal thickness
• Corneal biomechanics
• Corneal hysteresis
• Corneal resistance factor
• Recurrent anterior uveitis

Declaration of interest: The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.