Is pellucid marginal degeneration (PMD) a variant of keratoconus (KC)? A structural, molecular and biomechanical study

Session Details

Session Title: Moderated Poster Session: Refractive Surgery: Can Results Improve Even Further?

Venue: Poster Village: Pod 2

First Author: : P.Paritekar INDIA

Co Author(s): :    A. Ghosh   A. Sinha Roy   P. Khamar   P. Patel              

Abstract Details

Purpose:

To study pellucid marginal degeneration structurally molecularly and biomechanically and differentiate it from keratoconus.

Setting:

A tertiary eye care institute in Bangalore, India.

Methods:

We studied 20 eyes of 10 PMD & 50 eyes of 25 KC patients. Differential Corvis ST measurements were taken superiorly, centrally and inferiorly. Epithelium was collected from the ectatic and surrounding non-ectatic area & analysed for gene expression. The collected tears underwent flow cytometry & cytometric bead array. Confocal microscopy was used the imaging tool to analyse stromal architecture.

Results:

. Confocal microscopy revealed a fibrotic component in the inferior ectatic area in PMD which was distinct from KC. Gene expression from the ectatic tissue & matched periphery showed Lysyl Oxidase(LOX) & collagen levels significantly higher in the ectatic area in PMD compared to the cone in KC. This was supported by the differences in biomechanics measured on Corvis ST.

Conclusions:

This study divulged that PMD & KC are probably different entities in all aspects. This may have a huge impact on treatment planning & surgical outcomes.

Financial Disclosure:

None