Reduced central corneal thickness in patients with isotretinoin treatment

Abstract

Context: It is well known that oral isotretinoin treatment causes numerous ocular side-effects.

Objective: To investigate the effect of systemic isotretinoin treatment on central corneal thickness (CCT) values due to meibomian gland disease (MGD).

Participants: In this prospective study, 47 patients (27 men, 20 women) with nodulocystic acne vulgaris treated with oral isotretinoin (0.8 mg/kg daily) were included.

Methods: All patients were analyzed with the Pentacam Scheimpflug topography at baseline, on the 3rd and 6th month of treatment. Main outcome measures were MGD scores and CCT.

Results: The mean age of patients was 25.1 ± 4.4 years. The mean MGD scores were significantly higher at 3rd month (1.3 ± 0.9) and 6th month (1.5 ± 1.0) of treatment compared with baseline (1.1 ± 0.9) (p < 0.001). The mean CCT value at baseline was 540.5 ± 22.1 µm; 536.9 ± 20.5 µm at 3rd month and 531.4 ± 22.2 µm at 6th month. The differences between baseline and 6th month CCT measurements were statistically significant (p < 0.001). There was negative correlation between mean MGD scores and CCT values at the 6th month of treatment which was statistically significant (p = 0.038, r = −0.221).

Conclusion: Isotretinoin treatment causes higher MGD scores. A statistically significant decrease in CCT due to MGD was detected at 6th month of treatment.

• Acne vulgaris
• central corneal thickness
• isotretinoin
• meibomian gland dysfunction

Declaration of interest

None of the authors has a financial or proprietary interest in any method or material mentioned. The authors report no declarations of interest.