Corneal Hysteresis, Central Corneal Thickness, and Intraocular Pressure in Rheumatoid Arthritis, and Their Relation to Disease Activity

PURPOSE: To evaluate biomechanical properties, corneal thickness, and intraocular pressure (IOP) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and correlate them with rheumatoid activity. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Forty RA eyes were enrolled in a cross-sectional study. Clinical Disease Activity Index (CDAI) was used to assess the rheumatoid activity by a rheumatologist. Corneal hysteresis (CH), corneal resistance factor (CRF), and IOP corneal compensated, IOP Goldmann corrected were assessed using ocular response analyzer (ORA), Corneal thickness was measured using optical coherence tomography, and IOP using Goldman applanation tonometer (IOP GAT). RESULTS: There was a positive correlation between CH and CRF (P < 0.001 and r = 0.818) and (P < 0.001 and r = 0.714) in the active and inactive groups respectively, also between CRF and central corneal thickness (CCT) (P value 0.05 and r = 0.0435) in Inactive Group only. No correlation was found between CDAI score and ORA parameters. There was a negative correlation between CDAI and CCT in Active Group only (P < 0.001 and r = −0.823). CONCLUSION: Corneal biomechanical properties could be affected in rheumatoid patients in both active and remission phases, which may indicate that any corneal changes may be irreversible. These changes are of important significance regarding IOP measurement in rheumatoid patients. CCT may be a new parameter in the follow up of disease activity.