Corneal Biomechanics as a Function of Race
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Date
2017-05
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Publisher
The Ohio State University
Abstract
Corneal biomechanical properties are known to vary across age, gender, and race. This study aims to explore the differences in corneal biomechanics between different races, in vivo, using corneal deformation response to an applied air puff with the CorVis ST. This preliminary prospective study focuses on young normal subjects, ages 18-30. Thus far, 16 Caucasian subjects and 23 South Asian subjects have been enrolled, and three measurements were taken of each eye with the CorVis ST, as well as Pentacam, Ocular Response Analyzer (ORA), Goldmann Applanation Tonometer (GAT), and Pascal Dynamic Contour Tonometer (DCT). The subjects’ data was compared to the other race and to an existing database of CorVis exams from Italian and Brazilian subjects, matched by biomechanically corrected IOP, central corneal thickness, and age. The stiffness parameter (SP), corneal velocity, deformation amplitude (DA) ratio, and maximum inverse radius were compared between groups. ANOVA tests were performed between groups for each of these parameters using Statistical Analysis Software (SAS). As greater stiffness is associated with greater resistance to deformation, a stiffer cornea would have a higher stiffness parameter, lower corneal velocity, smaller deformation amplitude ratio, and smaller maximum inverse radius. Significant differences (p≤0.05) were found between the Caucasian subjects and the mixed-race database with regards to SP and corneal velocity, with Caucasian subjects having a greater SP and lower velocity, and therefore a stiffer cornea. South Asian subjects had significantly higher SP and significantly lower corneal velocity than the mixed-race database, showing that South Asians had stiffer corneas than the subjects in the database. Caucasian subjects had significantly lower DA ratio and maximum inverse radius than the South Asian subjects. These are the most sensitive CorVis parameters, and the results show that South Asian subjects have softer, more compliant corneas. These results are notable because these differences in corneal biomechanics by race are evident even with a small number of subjects and in a young population. Corneal biomechanical properties affect the accuracy of IOP measurements, disease development, and response to surgery, so further exploring corneal biomechanical differences by race could be very valuable.
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Keywords
Ophthalmology, Biomechanics, Cornea, Clinical research