Best Fit Sphere Back and Adjusted Maximum Elevation of Corneal Back Surface as Novel Predictors of Keratoconus Progression

PURPOSE: We evaluated the Maximum Elevation of Corneal Back Surface adjusted to the same Best Fit Sphere Back (BFSB) between timeline measurements (AdjEleBmax) and the BFSB radius (BFSBR) itself as new tomographic parameters for documentation of ectasia progression and compare them with the most recent and reliable parameters used on keratoconus (KC) progression. RESULTS: We evaluated the performance and the ideal cutoff point of Kmax, D-index, posterior radius of curvature from the 3.0 mm centered on the thinnest point (PRC), EleBmax, BFSBR, and AdjEleBmax as isolated parameters to document KC progression (defined as a significant change in two or more variables), we found a sensitivity of 70%, 82%, 79%, 65%, 51%, and 63% and a specificity of 91%, 98%, 80%, 73%, 80%, and 84% to detect KC progression. The area under the curve (AUC) for each variable was 0.822, 0.927, 0.844, 0.690, 0.695, 0.754, respectively. CONCLUSION: AdjEleBmax presented a greater specificity, larger AUC, and better performance compared to EleBmax without any adjustment, with similar sensitivity. Although AdjEleBmax and BFSB demonstrated smaller AUC and specificities comparing with Kmax and D-Index, AdjEleBmax still presented a good performance with a reasonable AUC. Since the shape of the posterior surface, more aspheric and curved than the anterior, may facilitate detection of change, we suggest the inclusion of AdjEleBmax in the evaluation of KC progression in conjunction with other variables to increase the reliability of our clinical evaluation and early detection of progression.