Comparison of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome and keratoconus patients on elevation maps

This study aimed to compare the tomographic features of the cornea on elevation maps between obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) and keratoconus (KC) patients and to investigate the presence of susceptibility to ectatic corneal diseases in OSAS patients.

This is a comparative cross-sectional case-control study.

This study included 84 eyes of 42 patients diagnosed with severe OSAS using polysomnography (apnea/hypopnea index > 30), 84 eyes of 56 patients diagnosed with keratoconus, and 84 eyes of 42 healthy subjects as control group and evaluated in three groups. Elevation maps of all the groups were performed using Pentacam, and topometric, pachymetric, and deviation indices were recorded.

The study included 252 eyes of 130 participants divided in three groups. Comparing all the tomographic keratometric values, a significant difference was found among the three groups. All keratometric values were found to be higher in the OSAS patients group compared to those in the control group. Also topometric indices and Belin-Ambrosio enhanced ectasia display (BAD) were observed to be higher as in subclinical keratoconus and statistically significant when compared to those in the control group.

The study reveals the tomographic corneal characteristics and topometric and pachymetric indices of patients with severe OSAS at the time of diagnosis; these findings statistically significantly differ from the control group. In addition to the known association of floppy eyelid in OSAS patients, the suspicion of keratoconus should be kept in mind.