Novel Parameter of Corneal Biomechanics That Differentiate Normals From Glaucoma

To identify novel corneal biomechanical parameters differentiating glaucomatous from normal eyes.

Sixty subjects with varying degrees of glaucoma severity and 61 normal controls underwent corneal biomechanical measurements including corneal deformation amplitude, inward and outward applanation length and velocity, and highest concavity time in 1 eye per subject at Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong. Measurements were taken with the Corvis ST device, a noncontact tonometer coupled with a high-speed Scheimpflug camera. The intraocular pressure (IOP) and central corneal thickness (CCT) were also measured.

Significant findings included differences in outward applanation velocity (glaucoma: -0.37±0.01 m/s; control: -0.32±0.01 m/s; P=0.001), peak distance (glaucoma: 2.37±0.03 mm; control: 2.30±0.02 mm; P=0.005), and highest concavity time (glaucoma: 16.75±0.08 ms; control: 17.05±0.07 ms; P=0.002) between the 2 groups, after correcting for IOP, CCT, and age. Both outward applanation velocity and peak distance were moderately correlated with IOP and CCT. However, highest concavity time was not correlated with either IOP or CCT (R(2)=0.0140 and 0.000055, respectively). Age was not correlated with any of the 3 parameters.

Glaucomatous eyes have a greater mean outward applanation velocity and peak distance, but shorter time to highest concavity than eyes without glaucoma. The difference in time to highest concavity does not correlate with age, IOP, or CCT, suggesting that this parameter may be a marker of increased pressure susceptibility that is independently associated with glaucoma risk.