Corneal Epithelial Thickness Mapping in Healthy Population Corneas Using MS-39 Anterior Segment Optical Coherence...

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Corneal Science
• Biometry

Background:

• The corneal epithelium is the eye's outermost protective layer.
• Understanding corneal epithelial thickness (ET) is crucial for diagnosing and managing ocular surface conditions.
• Normative ET data is essential for accurate clinical interpretation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate corneal epithelial thickness (ET) in a Saudi population.
• To establish a normative database of corneal ET for pediatric and adult age groups.
• To investigate potential differences in ET based on age and sex.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional, multi-center study involving 268 eyes from 268 Saudi patients.
• Corneal epithelial thickness was measured using the MS-39 AS-OCT device.
• Data analysis included comparisons between pediatric and adult groups, and between males and females.

Main Results:

• Adults generally showed higher mean central, paracentral, and peripheral ET compared to pediatric subjects, with some exceptions.
• Males exhibited higher mean ET across most central, paracentral, and peripheral measurements compared to females.
• Significant correlations were found in paracentral and peripheral ET across different quadrants, but not with spherical equivalent.

Conclusions:

• Corneal epithelial thickness varies significantly with age and sex in the Saudi population.
• Adults and males tend to have thicker corneal epithelium than children and females, respectively.
• The established normative database provides valuable reference values for clinical practice and future research.