Sectoral and Layer-Specific Corneal Thinning in Thyroid Eye Disease: A Cross-Sectional Study

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Corneal Science
• Endocrinology

Background:

• Thyroid eye disease (TED) can cause ocular complications, but its specific impact on corneal thickness remains unclear.
• Understanding corneal changes in TED is crucial for managing patient eye health and planning treatments.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate and compare corneal thickness across different layers in patients with TED versus controls.
• To identify specific corneal regions most affected by thickness changes in TED.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional retrospective study involving 29 TED patients and 9 controls.
• Corneal topography and thickness measurements (total, epithelial, stromal) using Galilei and RTVue devices.

Main Results:

• Patients with TED showed significantly lower total corneal thickness and corneal stromal thickness (CST) compared to controls.
• No significant differences in corneal epithelial thickness were found between TED patients and controls.
• Corneal irregularity indices were numerically higher in the TED group but within normal limits.

Conclusions:

• TED is linked to diffuse corneal stromal thinning, not focal changes or epithelial alterations.
• Layer-specific corneal assessment is essential for evaluating corneal health in TED patients.
• Findings have clinical implications for managing TED-related ocular issues.