Comparison of central corneal thickness measurement by scanning slit topography, infrared, and ultrasound pachymetry in normal and post-LASIK eyes.

OBJECTIVES: To compare central corneal thickness (CCT) measurements by scanning slit topography (SST), infrared pachymetry (IRP), and ultrasound pachymetry (USP), and their agreement in normal and post-laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) eyes. METHODS: Sixty normal and 35 post-LASIK subjects were recruited. Only one eye from each subject was analyzed. Non-contact pachymetry was performed first, and the order for SST (Orbscan IIz) and IRP (Tonoref III) was randomized for each patient, to be followed by contact USP (Echoscan US-4000). Pearson's correlation, paired t test, and Bland-Altman plots were used to investigate association, difference, and agreement among different instruments respectively. RESULTS: The measurements obtained with the instruments were highly correlated. Compared to CCT determined by USP (CCTUSP), CCT determined by SST (after correction with acoustic factor) (CCTSSTC) was thicker by 7 µm in normal eyes (P < 0.001). There was no significant difference between CCTSSTC and CCTUSP (P = 0.128), but a thickness-dependent deviation in post-LASIK eyes (P = 0.003). The CCT determined by IRP (CCTIRP) was thicker than CCTUSP in normal (P < 0.001) and post-LASIK eyes (P < 0.001) and demonstrated proportional overestimation with thinner corneas, with less predictable ultrasonic equivalent corneal thickness in normal eyes. Conversely, CCTIRP significantly underestimated CCT compared to CCTSST and showed increasing underestimation with thinner corneas in both normal and post-LASIK eyes (both P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Central corneal thickness determined by SST, IRP and USP were not interchangeable or interconvertible, probably attributed to difference in methodologies. Compensation with algorithms may improve agreements amongst instruments.

A rabbit model of age-dependant ocular hypertensive response to topical corticosteroids.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the ocular hypertensive response to topical dexamethasone (DEX), rimexolone (RIM), loteprednol etabonate (LOT) and fluorometholone (FML) in rabbits of different ages. METHODS: Seventy-five rabbits of three age groups (7 weeks, 6 months and 1-year old) received topical administration of 0.1% DEX, 1% RIM, 0.5% LOT, 0.1% FML or balanced salt solution four times daily for 1 month. Intraocular pressure (IOP) was monitored at regular time intervals. After a month, eyes were harvested for histological study with haematoxylin and eosin (H&E), periodic acid Schiff and Masson trichrome staining. Trabecular meshwork changes were graded by masked ocular pathologists. RESULTS: Topical DEX caused the greatest increase in IOP, followed by RIM and FML. LOT caused the least IOP increase. Similar pattern of IOP response to the four corticosteroids was observed in the three studied age groups. Young rabbits (7 week) were the most responsive to corticosteroids among the age groups. Extracellular matrix thickening in the trabecular meshwork region and loss of trabecular meshwork cells were observed after DEX, FML or RIM treatments. CONCLUSION: Young rabbits are more susceptible to steroid induced increase in IOP, even for milder steroids such as fluorometholone and rimexolone.