Effect of rheumatoid arthritis activity on corneal densitometry, curvature, thickness, and lens densitometry

Purpose To evaluate the effect of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) activity on the corneal densitometry, corneal curvature (CC), central corneal thickness (CCT), and lens densitometry and compare these parameters with healthy control patients. Patients and methods Prospective cross–sectional-controlled study on RA patients who were divided into 2 groups, each group with 120 eyes of 60 patients; group 1 of RA patients in the remission state and group 2 of RA patients in the active state. Control group 3 of 120 eyes of healthy controls. Scheimpflug imaging was used to measure corneal densitometry, CC, CCT, and lens densitometry. Results Compared with control group, a higher density was found in corneal densitometry in both RA groups. The density was mainly higher in the 0–2 mm and 2–6 mm radial zones of the anterior layer and the 10–12 mm zone of both the central and posterior layers with no significant difference between groups 1 and 2 of RA patients. Regarding the CCT, there was a significant reduction in the CCT between both RA groups compared with the control group, with no difference between groups 1 and 2. No significant difference was found in CC and lens densitometry between RA and control groups. Conclusion RA patients had higher corneal densitometry than healthy patients with no affection of RA activity on corneal and lens densitometry.