Eccentric Pathology in Keratoconus Exhibits Stiffer Biomechanical Response than Central Pathology

To investigate the difference in biomechanical response metrics between central and eccentric pathology and compare axial vs. tangential curvature, as well as zonal vs. single-point values.

Prospective, observational, cross-sectional study.

The study included 67 eyes of 41 subjects diagnosed with keratoconus (KCN).

Pentacam tomography and Corvis ST examinations were acquired, and disease severity was defined by maximum curvature, comparing single point of maximum anterior axial curvature (Kmax) vs. magnitude of surrounding 2 mm zonal value (ZKmax) on axial maps, vs. magnitude of steepest 2 mm zone on axial (CSpot_Axi) and tangential (CSpot_Tan) maps located by Cone Location and Magnitude Index (CLMI). Distance between the corneal center and Kmax (Kmax_dist) was compared to radial distance with CLMI (CRad_Axi and CRad_Tan). Single-point Kmax, ZKmax, and CLMI-derived zones were compared with biomechanical metrics via regression analyses, including stiffness parameter at first applanation (SP-A1), deformation amplitude ratio at 2 mm (DA Ratio), integrated inverse radius (IIR), and stress-strain index (SSI). Measurements were analyzed using paired t tests, with t tests between central and eccentric disease, and a significance threshold, P < 0.05.

Maximum curvature using axial vs. tangential curvature, zonal vs. single-point curvature, and corneal stiffness metrics compared with cone location.

Significantly greater central pathology was found using tangential (58 central and 9 eccentric) vs. axial curvature (28 central and 39 eccentric). ZKmax was significantly different than CSpot_Axi and CSpot_Tan (P < 0.0001). CRad_Axi (1.53 ± 0.41 mm) was significantly greater (P < 0.001) than Kmax_dist (1.33 ± 0.56 mm) and CRad_Tan (0.99 ± 0.34 mm). Kmax (56.09 ± 8.99 diopter [D]) was significantly greater than ZKmax (51.81 ± 7.50 D). Regressions for ZKmax, CSpot_Axi, and CSpot_Tan were significantly negative to SP-A1, stiffness parameter at highest concavity, and SSI, whereas significantly positive to DA Ratio and IIR. Regressions for Kmax_dist, CRad_Axi, and CRad_Tan had significantly positive relationships to SSI and significantly negative relationships to DA Ratio and IIR.

Central pathology has greater frequency with tangential than axial curvature. Corneal stiffness increases as the distance of the cone from the center increases, consistent with the focal nature of KCN. Central stiffness decreases as cone curvature (disease severity) increases. Recommendation is to use zonal values with tangential curvature to evaluate the location of the greatest curvature and changes in curvature over time.

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