Scheimpflug-Based Corneal Biomechanical Analysis As A Predictor of Glaucoma in Eyes With High Myopia

Abstract

Purpose

To address if corneal biomechanical behavior has a predictive value for the presence of glaucomatous optical neuropathy in eyes with high myopia.

Patients and Methods

This observational cross-sectional study included 209 eyes from 108 consecutive patients, divided into four groups: high myopia and primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) – HMG, n = 53; high myopia without POAG – HMNG, n = 53; non-myopic with POAG – POAG, n = 50; non-myopic and non-POAG– NMNG, n = 53. Biomechanical assessment was made through a Scheimpflug-camera-based technology. Receiver operating characteristic curves were made for the discrimination between groups. Multivariable logistic regression models were performed to address the predictive value of corneal biomechanics for the presence of glaucoma.

Results

Areas Under the Receiver Operating Characteristic (AUROCs) above 0.6 were found in 6 parameters applied to discriminate between HMG and HMNG and six parameters to discriminate between POAG and NMNG. The biomechanical models with the highest power of prediction for the presence of glaucoma included 5 parameters with an AUROC of 0.947 for eyes with high myopia and 6 parameters with an AUROC of 0.857 for non-myopic eyes. In the final model, including all eyes, and adjusted for the presence of high myopia, the highest power of prediction for the presence of glaucoma was achieved including eight biomechanical parameters, with an AUROC of 0.917.

Conclusion

Corneal biomechanics demonstrated differences in eyes with glaucoma and mainly in myopic eyes. A biomechanical model based on multivariable logistic regression analysis and adjusted for high myopia was built, with an overall probability of 91.7% for the correct prediction of glaucomatous damage.

Plain Language Summary

High myopia and glaucoma are two entities with a worldwide growing prevalence and with a great visual, social and economic impact. High myopic eyes have a greater risk of glaucomatous damage, but early diagnosis is difficult due to the particularities of the eyes. This study asks if corneal biomechanics assessment can have a role in the risk prediction of glaucomatous damage in eyes with high myopia. As a strong biomechanical model for the correct prediction of glaucomatous damage was built, corneal biomechanics study can be a useful tool in the management of high myopic eyes with suspected glaucoma.

Keywords:

• corneal biomechanics
• corvis
• glaucoma
• high myopia
• intraocular pressure
• Scheimpflug camera

Data Sharing Statement

The datasets generated during and/or analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

Statement of Ethics

The study adhered to the tenets of the Declaration of Helsinki. Approval was obtained from the “Departamento de Ensino, Formação e Investigação” (DEFI) of Centro Hospitalar e Universitário do Porto (nr: 130-DEFI-132-CE). The informed consent from the patients was waived due to the total anonymization and confidentiality of the data and the absence of detailed individual data.

Acknowledgments

The authors want to express gratitude to those who made this work possible and are not referred to as co-authors, mainly the residents and the technicians who performed the exams. Additionally, we also thank the participants of the study.

Disclosure

Prof. Dr. Renato Ambrósio Jr reports personal fees from OCULUS, during the conduct of the study. The authors report no other conflicts of interest in this work.

Additional information

Funding

No funding or sponsorship was received for this study or publication of this article.