What drives progressive keratoconus: a study of inflammatory signatures

Session Details

Session Title: Corneal Biomechanics

Session Date/Time: Monday 09/10/2017 | 08:00-10:30

Paper Time: 09:02

Venue: Room 2.1

First Author: : P.Tewari INDIA

Co Author(s): :    R. Shetty   A. Ghosh   S. Sethu              

Abstract Details

Purpose:

To understand the role of inflammatory responses in patients with progressive keratoconus(KC) as compared to those with stable KC

Setting:

Narayana Nethralaya, Refractive surgery department, Bangalore

Methods:

This was a prospective longitudinal study that included 22 eyes with progressive KC and 15 eyes with stable KC. Progression was defined as an increase of 0.5D or more in two or more keratometry values in the steep meridian between two sagittal curve maps or a decrease in corneal thickness of 10% or more at the thinnest point between two pachymetry maps on Pentacam in the last 6 months. Tear fluid was collected using Schirmer’s strips and was analyzed for inflammatory cytokines using cytometric bead array.

Results:

There was an increase in the inflammatory factors like IL-1β, IL-17 and Fas-L and a decrease in IL-10 observed in the tears of patients with progressive KC as compared to those with stable KC.

Conclusions:

There is a role of aberrant inflammation in the progression of KC. Controlling inflammation by cyclosporine A or other anti-inflammatory agents targeting specific inflammatory biomarkers could be beneficial in the management of progressive KC.

Financial Disclosure:

NONE