Corneal Morphological and Biomechanical Changes in Thyroid-Associated Ophthalmopathy

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Corneal Science
• Endocrinology

Background:

• Thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy (TAO) is an autoimmune condition affecting the eye socket, potentially leading to vision impairment.
• Corneal involvement in TAO is recognized, but detailed morphological and biomechanical changes and their clinical correlations require further elucidation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate corneal morphological and biomechanical alterations in patients with TAO.
• To assess the relationship between these corneal changes and the clinical activity and severity of TAO.

Main Methods:

• Corneal topography and biomechanical parameters were assessed in TAO patients using Pentacam and CorVis ST devices.
• Patients were grouped by TAO activity and severity.
• Correlations between corneal parameters, clinical activity score, and NOSPECS score were analyzed.

Main Results:

• TAO patients exhibited significant increases in back elevation, biomechanical indices, and thickness deviations, alongside decreased corneal thickness and deformation amplitude ratio.
• Corneal parameters like back elevation and relational thickness strongly correlated with clinical activity and NOSPECS scores.
• Specific parameters demonstrated diagnostic capacity in differentiating TAO severity.

Conclusions:

• Corneal morphological and biomechanical changes are present in TAO, potentially linked to ocular inflammation.
• Corneal parameter measurements offer valuable insights for assessing TAO activity and severity.