Assessment of corneal topographic, tomographic, densitometric, and biomechanical properties of Fabry patients with ocular manifestations.

purposeTo investigate whether cornea verticillata affects corneal topography, tomography, densitometry, or biomechanics of Fabry patients with ocular manifestations and to compare these results with those obtained from healthy subjects.

methodsThis prospective, cross-sectional study included 23 Fabry patients (Fabry group) with cornea verticillata and the 37 age- and sex-matched healthy subjects (control group). After comprehensive ophthalmological examinations, corneal topography, tomography, and densitometry measurements were taken using Pentacam HR and corneal biomechanics were captured via Corvis ST for all participants.

resultsAll the investigated topographic and tomographic values were similar in the eyes with Fabry disease (FD) and the controls (P > 0.05). The corneal densitometry values of patients with FD were statistically significantly higher in all the concentric zones and layers, except posterior 0-2 mm and posterior 2-6 mm zones, compared to the controls (P < 0.05). The mean values of A1 velocity, A2 velocity, deformation amplitude ratio, Corvis biomechanical index, tomographic and biomechanical index, and Stiffness parameter at the first applanation in the Fabry group were statistically significantly different compared to control group (P < 0.05). However, the mean values of A1 length, A2 length, and the biomechanically corrected intraocular pressure were similar between the groups (P = 0.317, P = 0.819, and P = 0.468; respectively).

conclusionAlthough cornea verticillata associated with FD is not considered to affect vision, it is associated with increased light backscattering and reduced corneal transparency as well as altered corneal biomechanical properties.