Repeatability of corneal and epithelial thickness measurements with anterior segment optical coherence tomography in keratoconus

PURPOSE: To investigate the repeatability in corneal thickness (CT) and epithelial thickness (ET) measurements using spectral domain anterior segment optical coherence tomography (AS-OCT, REVO NX, Optopol) in keratoconus, and examine the effect of corneal crosslinking (CXL) on repeatability. METHODS: A cross-sectional study of 259 eyes of 212 patients with keratoconus attending the corneal disease clinic at a university hospital tertiary referral center were enrolled. Two groups were analysed: eyes with no prior history of CXL (Group A) and eyes with prior CXL (Group B). Repeatability of measurements was assessed using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and coefficient of variation (CV). RESULTS: In Group A, central corneal thickness (CCT) was 472.18 ± 45.41μm, and the ET was found to be the thinnest in the inferior-temporal aspect at 51.79 ± 5.97μm and thickest at the superior-nasal aspect at 56.07 ± 5.70μm. In Group B, CCT was 465.11± 42.28μm, and the ET was the thinnest at the inferior-temporal aspect at 50.63 ± 5.52μm and thickest at the superior aspect at 56.80 ± 6.39μm. When evaluating CT measurements, ICC was above 0.86 and 0.83 for Group A and Group B respectively. When evaluating ET measurements, ICC was above 0.82 for both groups. CXL had no statistically significant impact on the repeatability of measurements. CONCLUSIONS: AS-OCT provides repeatable CT and ET measurements in the central and peripheral cornea in patients with keratoconus. Repeatability is not affected by a history of CXL.