Biomedical Research

Aim: To use ultrasonographic pachymetry and Anterior Segment Optic Coherence Tomography (ASOCT) to determine changes in anterior segment structures and Central Corneal Thickness (CCT) in patients within 48 hours of blunt eye trauma. Our overall goal was to identify the effects of CCT alterations on blurred vision during the acute periods of blunt eye trauma.

Method: Anterior segment findings were recorded for all patients. CCT measurements of 43 traumatized eyes were compared for 43 traumatized eyes and 41 non traumatized eyes. CCT was measured with a USG pachymeter and AS-OCT.

Results: The mean best corrected visual acuities differed significantly between the control group and patients sub-grouped as mildly and severely injured (p=0.006).The mean IOP was higher for the mildly traumatized group than for the control group,butthe difference was not statistically significant (p=0.53).The mean IOP increased in the severely traumatized group when compared to the control and mildly traumatized groups (p=0.001, p=0.035; respectively).USG pachymetry and AS-OCT measurements were not significantly different among the three groups(p=0.43, p=0.38; respectively). Both measurement methods showed good correlation in the control, mildly traumatized, and severely traumatized groups (r=0.997, p=0.000; r=0.999, p=0.000; r=0.998, p=0.000; respectively). Bland-Altman analysis revealed a high level of agreement between USG pachymetry and AS-OCT in every sub-group.

Conclusion: We found no significant differences in the CCT values between healthy and traumatized eyes. Therefore, AS-OCT may be a good alternative protocol for examination of acutely traumatized eyes due to the decreased contamination risk.

Author(s): Kursat Atalay, Havva Erdogan, Ahmet Kirgiz, Metin Mert, Ceren Gurez, Muhittin Taskapili
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