INTERNATIONAL OPHTHALMOLOGY, vol.43, no.7, pp.2257-2263, 2023 (SCI-Expanded)
Purpose To evaluate the corneal biomechanical properties and central corneal thickness in patients with Graves' orbitopathy (GO). Method A total of 132 eyes of 66 patients with GO and 108 eyes of 54 healthy subjects were enrolled. Eyes with GO were classified as high score clinical activity score (CAS, >= 3) (Group 1, n = 64) and low CAS score (< 3) (Group 2, n = 68). Corneal biomechanical parameters [corneal hysteresis (CH), corneal resistance factor (CRF)], Goldmann-correlated intraocular pressure (IOPg), and corneal-compensated IOP (IOPcc) levels were measured with Ocular Response Analyzer (ORA, Reichert Ophthalmic Instruments, Buffalo, NY) and compared between the groups. Results The mean CH values were found as 9.6 +/- 1 mmHg in Group 1, 10.2 +/- 0.9 mmHg in Group 2, and 11.4 +/- 1.7 mmHg in the Control Group (p < 0.001). In post hoc analysis the mean CH was significantly lower in Group 1 than Group 2 and Control Group (Group 1-Group 2, p < 0.001; Group 1-Control Group, p < 0.001). The mean CRF was found as 10.5 +/- 2.1 in Group 1, 10.4 +/- 2.2 in Group 2, and 10.43 ?+/- 2.0 in the Control group. There was no statistically significant difference between the groups in CRF measurements (p = 0.959). The mean IOPcc values were found as 17.1 +/- 3.6 mmHg in Group 1, 15.8 +/- 4.0 mmHg in Group 2 and 15.2 +/- 4.1 mmHg in the Control Group. The IOPcc and IOPg measurements between all groups were statistically significant (p = 0.009, p = 0.027, respectively). Conclusions Corneal biomechanical measurements were different in the GO patients with varying CAS scores compared to healthy individuals.