Corneal epithelial thickness mapping in egyptian myopic patients

Aim To evaluate the corneal epithelial thickness (CET) map, using anterior-segment optical coherence tomography, and its correlation with myopic error. Setting Badr University Hospital and El Mashreq Center, Cairo, Egypt. Patients and methods Fifty myopic eyes (less than −6.00 D) of 25 patients were included in the study. Participants of the study underwent a complete ophthalmic examination, including testing visual acuity, refraction, examination of both anterior and posterior segments, and intraocular pressure measurement. Anterior-segment optical coherence tomography was utilized to evaluate CET. Results The studied participants were 13 females and 12 males, and their age ranged from 22 to 42 years, with a mean of 31.12±5.75 years. The mean spherical equivalent was −2.62±1.41 D, with a mean astigmatic error of −1.18±1.21 D. The central epithelial thickness ranged from 50 to 64 µm with a mean of 55.50±3.65 µm, and when compared with the paracentral areas, there was statistically significant decrease in superior measurement at 2–5 mm zone. Also, in superior, temporal, superior temporal, and superior nasal at both 5–7 mm and 8 mm zones with P value less than 0.05. While there was a statistically significant increase in inferior and inferior nasal at 2–5 mm zone with P value of 0.002 and 0.047, respectively. There was no statistically significant relation between age and epithelial thickness measurement. While there was a statistically significant decrease in superior measurement in males compared to females, with a P value of 0.017 at the 9 mm zone. Also, there was a statistically significant decrease in superior temporal measurement in males compared to females ( P =0.022) at 9 mm zone. There was no statistically significant relation between the degree of myopia and CET. There was a statistically significant positive correlation between spherical equivalent and inferior measurement at 2–5 mm ( P =0.05). On the other hand, there was a statistically significant negative correlation between astigmatic errors and temporal measurement at the 5–7 mm zone ( P =0.031) and the 9 mm zone ( P =0.023). Conclusion The CET indicated the substantial difference between the superior and inferior medians, with the superior epithelium being the thinnest, and more than the temporal. These findings and advancements in the imaging of the anterior segment could be valuable in the management of corneal disorders and in achieving perfection in the management of corneal refractive surgery and its complications.