Association between Skin Thickness Measurements with Corneal Biomechanical Properties and Dry Eye Tests in Systemic Sclerosis

ABSTRACT

Purpose: To analyse the association between skin score with corneal biomechanics and dry eye tests in systemic sclerosis (SSc).

Methods: 112 cases (limited SSc (lcSSc), n=50; diffuse SSc  (dcSSc), n=32; controls, n=30) were included in the study. Corneal hysteresis (CH), corneal resistance factor (CRF), Schirmer 1, 2 tests, OSDI score and modified Rodnan skin score (mRSS) were evaluated.

Results: There was correlation between the mRSS and CH (p = 0.004, r = −0.402; p < 0.001, r = -0.786, respectively) as well as correlation with the CRF (p < 0.001, r = 0.709; p < 0.001, r = 0.848, respectively) and OSDI (p < 0.001, r = 0.74; p < 0.001, r = 0.89, respectively) score in lcSSc and dcSSc. Also, the Schirmer 1 (p < 0.001, r = -0.802) and 2 (p < 0.001, r = -0.587) test values showed correlation with the mRSS in dcSSc.

Conclusion: Skin score had clinically significant importance for predicting corneal biomechanical properties and dry eye tests in both lcSSc and dcSSc.

Keywords:

• Corneal biomechanical properties
• diffuse systemic sclerosis
• dry eye tests
• limited systemic sclerosis
• modified rodnan skin score

Declaration of interest

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