Choroidal thickness assessment in keratoconus patients treated with cross-linking compared to healthy population

Purpose To analyze the choroidal thickness between patients with keratoconus undergoing cross-linking treatment and a healthy population, as well as to determine the factors that influence choroidal thickness. Methods This was an observational, analytical, case-control study that was conducted from February 2021 to June 2021. Choroidal thickness was measured at different locations, including the subfoveal, nasal (1000 mu m), temporal (1000 mu m), superior (1000 mu m) and inferior (1000 mu m) locations using a Spectral-domain optical coherence tomography with enhanced depth imaging, which allowed us to obtain horizontal and vertical B-scans centered on the fovea. Results This study included 21 patients with keratoconus (mean age, 21.86 +/- 5.28 years) and 28 healthy patients (mean age, 24.21 +/- 4.71 years). Choroidal thickness was significantly greater in patients with keratoconus than in healthy patients in each of the following measured locations: subfoveal (P < 0.001); nasal (1000 mu m) (P < 0.001), temporal (1000 mu m) (P < 0.001), superior (1000 mu m) (P < 0.001) and inferior (1000 mu m) (P < 0.001) locations. Variables such as age (rho = - 0.09; P = 0.50) and refraction (rho = 0.14; P = 0.34) were not found to be associated with choroidal thickness. In a stepwise multiple linear regression, the group was the single variable correlated with choroidal thickness (beta = 0.88; P < 0.001). Conclusion Choroidal thickness is thicker in keratoconus patients treated with cross-linking than in the healthy population. This finding could be associated with inflammatory choroidal mechanisms in keratoconus patients, but more studies are needed. Age and refractive error do not seem to influence choroidal thickness.

Automated summary

The purpose of this study was to analyze the choroidal thickness in keratoconus patients undergoing cross-linking treatment compared to a healthy population and determine the factors influencing choroidal thickness. Choroidal thickness was measured at different locations using optical coherence tomography. The results showed that choroidal thickness was significantly greater in keratoconus patients than in healthy individuals. Age and refractive error were not found to be associated with choroidal thickness.