Changes in Corneal Thickness, Upper and Lower Tear Film in Seasonal Allergic Conjunctivitis by Steroid Treatment: Anterior Segment Optical Coherence Tomography Study

Abstract

Purpose: To evaluate the effects of loteprednol etabonate on cornea and tear film in patients with seasonal allergic conjunctivitis by anterior segment optical coherence tomography (OCT). Methods: The right eyes of 52 subjects with seasonal allergic conjunctivitis were evaluated in the study. Central corneal thickness (CCT), the thicknesses of central corneal epithelium (CET) and central non-epithelial cornea (CnET), and lower and upper tear meniscus areas were measured by spectral-domain OCT and ocular surface disease index (OSDI) were obtained at baseline. After topical use of loteprednol etabonate 0.5% eye drop three times a day for 1 week, the measurements were repeated. Paired T test was used for analysis. Results: Mean CCT and mean thicknesses of CET and CnET at baseline were 528.19 ± 34.47 µm, 64.10 ± 5.30 µm and 462.84 ± 33.43 µm, respectively, and these were 526.31 ± 33.37 µm, 64.65 ± 4.84 µm and 459.84 ± 32.11 µm after the treatment, respectively. OSDI score was 21.55 ± 4.40 at baseline and 13.13 ± 2.39 after 1 week. The lower and upper tear meniscus areas at baseline were 0.026 ± 0.017 mm2 and 0.017 ± 0.007 mm2, respectively, and they were 0.017 ± 0.009 mm2 and 0.016 ± 0.007 mm2, respectively, after the treatment. There is statistically significant difference between before and after values of CCT, CnET, lower tear meniscus area and OSDI score (p < 0.05). Conclusion: There is no change in corneal epithelial thickness and upper tear meniscus area after 1-week treatment with loteprednol etabonate in patients with seasonal allergic conjunctivitis, but it may cause decrease in non-epithelial corneal thickness and lower tear meniscus area. © 2020, Springer Nature B.V.