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. 2023 Sep;43(9):3139-3148.
doi: 10.1007/s10792-023-02713-2. Epub 2023 Apr 25.

Repeatability of corneal pachymetry and epithelial thickness measurements with spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) and correlation to ocular surface parameters

Vasileia Chatzistergiou  1 , Argyrios Tzamalis  2 , Asterios Diafas  2 , Eirini Oustoglou  2 , Asimina Mataftsi  2 , Ioannis Tsinopoulos  2 , Nikolaos Ziakas  2
Affiliations

Repeatability of corneal pachymetry and epithelial thickness measurements with spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) and correlation to ocular surface parameters

Vasileia Chatzistergiou et al. Int Ophthalmol. 2023 Sep.

Abstract

Purpose: To assess the repeatability of corneal pachymetry and epithelial thickness measurements with spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) and identify correlations between epithelial thickness and ocular surface parameters.

Methods: Adults who happened to have prolonged computer use were recruited, excluding those with conditions interfering with corneal measurements or tear production. All subjects filled in the ocular surface disease index (OSDI) questionnaire. Three consecutive measurements of central and peripheral corneal and epithelial thickness were performed with SD-OCT (RTVue XR). Schirmer test I and tear film break-up time (TBUT) were performed. Repeatability was evaluated with intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), coefficient of variation and repeatability limit. Spearman correlation was used for non-parametric variables.

Results: 113 eyes of 63 subjects were included in the study. ICC was ≥ 0.989 for all corneal and ≥ 0.944 for all epithelial pachymetry segments. The best repeatability was found centrally and the worst superiorly both for corneal and epithelial measurements. Central epithelial thickness was weakly correlated with Schirmer test I (rho = 0.21), TBUT (rho = 0.02), OSDI symptoms and OSDI score (rho <|0.32|). OSDI symptoms and OSDI score were weakly correlated with Schirmer test I (rho <|0.3|) and TBUT (rho <|0.34|).

Conclusion: RTVue XR measurements of corneal and epithelial thickness are highly repeatable in all segments. The lack of correlation between epithelial thickness and ocular surface parameters could suggest the assessment of epithelial integrity with reliable methods such as SD-OCT.

Keywords: Corneal pachymetry; Epithelial thickness; SD-OCT; Schirmer test; Spectral-domain optical coherence tomography; Tear break-up time.

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