Scheimpflug Corneal Densitometry Changes After Trabeculectomy

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Glaucoma Research
• Corneal Physiology

Background:

• Trabeculectomy with mitomycin C is a common surgical procedure for open-angle glaucoma.
• Corneal densitometry is a quantitative measure of corneal transparency.
• Changes in corneal transparency can occur after ocular surgery.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate changes in Scheimpflug corneal densitometry six months post-mitomycin C-augmented trabeculectomy.
• To compare corneal densitometry measurements with those of healthy controls.

Main Methods:

• Prospective study involving 42 eyes of patients with open-angle glaucoma undergoing trabeculectomy.
• Corneal densitometry was measured using Pentacam HR3 before and six months after surgery.
• Intraocular pressure (IOP), central corneal thickness, and medication use were recorded.

Main Results:

• A statistically significant reduction in mean diurnal IOP from 19.0 ± 7.7 to 11.1 ± 7.7 mm Hg was observed (P = 0.003).
• Corneal densitometry measurements decreased from 25.5 ± 5.7 to 23.1 ± 5.8 grayscale units (P = 0.001), returning to levels not significantly different from healthy controls (22.8 ± 3.4; P = 0.824).
• No significant correlations were found between densitometry changes and preoperative or postoperative factors.

Conclusions:

• Corneal densitometry, a sensitive measure of corneal transparency, normalized six months after trabeculectomy.
• The improvement in corneal transparency is likely linked to significant IOP reduction and reduced use of topical antiglaucomatous medications.