First Author: M.Gumus TURKEY
Co Author(s): S. Pflugfelder
Purpose:
To evaluate the impact of aging on conjunctivochalasis in an evidence-based manner using anterior segment optical segment tomography.
Setting:
Alkek Eye Center, Cullen Eye Institute, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, US and Erciyes University School of Medicine, Department of Ophthalmology, Kayseri, Turkey
Methods:
Sixty eyes of 30 healthy volunteers (range, 24 to 75 years) (15 men and 15 women) without any ophthalmic diseases were recruited for the study. Subjects were organized into sex-matched three groups according to their ages: 20-39 years (Group 1: 10 subjects), 40-59 subjects (Group 2: 10 subjects), 60-75 years (Group 3: 10 subjects). Cross-sectional area of conjunctivochalasis was measured at three locations (temporal, central and nasal) using Fourier-Domain RTVue-100 OCT (Optovue, Fremont, CA, USA). Tear meniscus height (TMH) was also measured in all images where typical triangular in shape tear meniscus was obtained.
Results:
In terms of the cross-sectional area of conjunctivochalasis, there were statistically significant differences among three groups at temporal and nasal locations (p<0.001). At the central location, while there were no subjects in groups 1 and 2, solely three eyes revealed conjunctivochalasis in group 3. The severity of conjunctivochalasis affecting the temporal and nasal bulbar conjunctiva was strongly correlated with age (eta: 0.90, eta 2: 0.81, p< 0.001 and eta: 0.88, eta 2: 0.78, p< 0.001). Lower central tear meniscus height was compared among the groups and a significant difference was observed (p< 0.001).
Conclusions:
The Fourier-Domain RTVue-100 OCT could provide us an objective and quantitative approach for assessing the stages of conjunctivochalasis. The current study objectively confirms that conjunctivochalasis could be observed even in younger healthy people and its severity increases with age. FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE?: No
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