Reduced central corneal thickness in patients with isotretinoin treatment

It is well known that oral isotretinoin treatment causes numerous ocular side-effects.

To investigate the effect of systemic isotretinoin treatment on central corneal thickness (CCT) values due to meibomian gland disease (MGD).

In this prospective study, 47 patients (27 men, 20 women) with nodulocystic acne vulgaris treated with oral isotretinoin (0.8 mg/kg daily) were included.

All patients were analyzed with the Pentacam Scheimpflug topography at baseline, on the 3rd and 6th month of treatment. Main outcome measures were MGD scores and CCT.

The mean age of patients was 25.1 ± 4.4 years. The mean MGD scores were significantly higher at 3rd month (1.3 ± 0.9) and 6th month (1.5 ± 1.0) of treatment compared with baseline (1.1 ± 0.9) (p < 0.001). The mean CCT value at baseline was 540.5 ± 22.1 µm; 536.9 ± 20.5 µm at 3rd month and 531.4 ± 22.2 µm at 6th month. The differences between baseline and 6th month CCT measurements were statistically significant (p < 0.001). There was negative correlation between mean MGD scores and CCT values at the 6th month of treatment which was statistically significant (p = 0.038, r = -0.221).

Isotretinoin treatment causes higher MGD scores. A statistically significant decrease in CCT due to MGD was detected at 6th month of treatment.