Corneal thickness is reduced in dry eye.

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Corneal Science
• Dry Eye Disease Research

Background:

• Dry eye disease (DED) affects millions globally, impacting ocular surface health.
• Corneal structure and thickness are crucial for maintaining visual function and ocular integrity.
• Understanding corneal changes in DED is vital for diagnosis and management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To quantitatively compare corneal thickness between normal eyes and those with aqueous tear deficiency dry eye.
• To identify specific patterns of corneal thickness variation in dry eye patients.

Main Methods:

• Utilized the Orbscan corneal topography system for precise corneal thickness measurements.
• Assessed corneal thickness at nine distinct locations in both central and peripheral cornea.
• Included 38 eyes from 21 DED patients and 34 eyes from 21 healthy controls.

Main Results:

• Significantly reduced corneal thickness observed in the central and midperipheral regions of dry eyes compared to normal eyes.
• Superior cornea was the thickest, while the central cornea was the thinnest in both groups.
• Distinct differences in pachymetry map patterns (oval vs. decentered oval) and increased astigmatism noted in dry eyes.

Conclusions:

• Chronic desiccation and immune activation in DED likely contribute to corneal thinning.
• Observed corneal thinning in dry eyes may represent a precursor to more severe manifestations like corneal ulceration.
• Findings highlight the structural impact of DED on the cornea.