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

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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.

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The authors declare that no funds, grants, or other support were received during the preparation of this manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. 2nd Department of Ophthalmology, School of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece

    Vasileia Chatzistergiou, Argyrios Tzamalis, Asterios Diafas, Eirini Oustoglou, Asimina Mataftsi, Ioannis Tsinopoulos & Nikolaos Ziakas

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  1. Vasileia Chatzistergiou
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Contributions

All authors contributed to the study conception and design. Material preparation, data collection and analysis were performed by VC, AT, AD and EO. The first draft of the manuscript was written by VC and all authors commented on previous versions of the manuscript and revised it critically. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

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Correspondence to Vasileia Chatzistergiou.

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This study was performed in line with the principles of the Declaration of Helsinki. Approval was granted by the Institutional Review Board of Papageorgiou General Hospital.

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Chatzistergiou, V., Tzamalis, A., Diafas, A. et al. Repeatability of corneal pachymetry and epithelial thickness measurements with spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) and correlation to ocular surface parameters. Int Ophthalmol 43, 3139–3148 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10792-023-02713-2

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