Central corneal thickness in patients with systemic sclerosis: a controlled study

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Rheumatology
• Systemic Sclerosis Research

Background:

• Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is an autoimmune disease affecting connective tissues.
• Ocular manifestations in SSc are common, but corneal changes are not well-established.
• Central corneal thickness (CCT) is a critical parameter in ocular health assessments.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate and compare central corneal thickness (CCT) in patients diagnosed with systemic sclerosis (SSc).
• To establish whether SSc influences corneal thickness by comparing SSc patients to a healthy control cohort.

Main Methods:

• Ultrasound pachymetry was utilized to measure CCT.
• A cohort of 37 SSc patients and 23 age- and sex-matched healthy controls participated.
• CCT was measured in both the right and left eyes for all participants.

Main Results:

• The mean CCT in the SSc group was 534.9 ± 33.5 μm (right eye) and 536.9 ± 32.4 μm (left eye).
• The mean CCT in the control group was 533.0 ± 32.9 μm (right eye) and 533.1 ± 33.6 μm (left eye).
• No statistically significant difference in CCT was observed between the SSc and control groups for either eye (P > 0.05).

Conclusions:

• Central corneal thickness (CCT) measurements are comparable between individuals with systemic sclerosis (SSc) and healthy controls.
• The findings indicate that SSc does not appear to significantly alter corneal thickness.
• Further research may explore other ocular parameters in SSc patients.