Posters

The association of corneal biomechanical properties with intraocular pressure and central corneal thickness

Poster Details

First Author: D.Bessinis GREECE

Co Author(s):    P. Papadopoulos   C. Kakoulidis   A. Papadopoulos   A. Cernak     

Abstract Details

Purpose:

We hypothesized and investigated the association of intraocular pressure (IOP) and central corneal thickness (CCT) with the biomechanical properties of the cornea, including the applanation lengths, the peak distance and the peak radius of the highest concavity as well as the deformation amplitude.

Setting:

1- Athens Ophthalmo-Check Eye Center 2- Ophthalmology Dept., Slovak Medical University 3-Ophthalmology Dept. Evaggelismos Hospital, Athens

Methods:

Fifty five eyes of 28 patients were examined with Corvis ST for IOP, CCT and biomechanical properties. Statistical analysis was performed with SPPS software for Windows using Spearman's correlation.

Results:

We found a significant interaction between IOP and corneal biomechanical properties. Higher IOP and a thicker cornea were associated with higher applanation length 2 (p<0,05 and p<0,001 respectively), lower peak distance (p<0,001 and p<0,05 respectively), higher peak radius (p<0,001 and p<0,001 respectively) and lower deformation amplitude (p<0,001 and p<0,001 respectively).

Conclusions:

A positive correlation was detected between IOP, CCT and corneal biomechanical properties. It appears that a higher IOP and a thicker cornea results in bigger concavity and rebound of cornea to normal state. On the contrary the peak distance of the highest concavity and the deformation amplitude is lower when IOP and CCT are high. It seems that even though there is an association of IOP and CCT it may not be in the way previously believed. Neither IOP nor CCT interact with applanation length 1, which is the highest deformation length of the cornea immediately after the air impulse. Based on our results we suggest that applanation length 1 may be a key to understanding corneal biomechanics as it is independent of other factors such as IOP and CCT. FINANCIAL INTEREST: NONE