Corneal, Scleral, Choroidal, and Foveal Thickness in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis

OBJECTIVES: To investigate corneal, scleral, choroidal, and foveal thicknesses in female patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and compare them with healthy subjects. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This prospective study included consecutive female patients diagnosed with RA and healthy subjects. Corneal, scleral, choroidal, and retinal (foveal) thicknesses were obtained by using optical coherence tomography and a comparison was performed between groups for all outcome measures. RESULTS: Thirty-six eyes of 36 female patients diagnosed with RA (group 1) and 36 eyes of 36 healthy female volunteers (group 2) were included. Mean corneal, scleral, choroidal thicknesses and retinal thickness at the fovea of group 1 were 543.3±33.7 µm, 343.7±42.2 µm, 214.6±50, and 213.5±18.9 µm, respectively; in group 2, these values were 549.9±29.6 μm, 420.9±42.4 μm, 206.4±41.9 μm, and 222±15.5 μm, respectively. The comparison between group 1 and 2 with respect to corneal, choroidal, and foveal thicknesses did not reveal statistical significant differences (p>0.05). On the contrary, there was a statistically significant difference with respect to scleral thickness between the groups, with the RA patients demonstrating a thinner scleral layer (p<0.001). CONCLUSION: Female patients with RA seem to demonstrate statistically significant scleral thinning when compared with healthy subjects, while there was no difference concerning corneal, choroidal, and foveal thickness.