Corneal epithelial mapping in different corneal conditions

Abstract Background Cataract surgery is traumatic to the corneal epithelium,scarring and opacity is the commonest cause of blindness. Objective To study the corneal epithelial thickness in different corneal conditions using anterior segment optical coherence tomography (AS-OCT). Patients and Methods A case-control study including 80 eyes divided equally into 4 groups; group 1:controls,group 2:corneal scarring ,group 3:cataract patients and group 4:pterygium. using AS-OCT epithelial mapping to document changes in epithelial thickness in controls, cataract patients pre and 1 month after phacoemulsification, patients with corneal scarring and patients with pterygium. Results In phacoemulsification group; we found that epithelial thickness became thinner in area (0_2) and thicker in area (7_9) mm in the map with no significant change in areas (2_5),(5_7) mm in the map. In corneal scarring group; we found that epithelial thickness became thicker compared to control group in all zones. In pterygium group; we found that epithelial thickness became thicker compared to control group in, areas (2_5), (5_7) & (7_9) mm in the map with no significant change in area (0_2) mm in the map. Conclusion The corneal epithelium thickness becomes thinner or thicker to compensate for changes in stromal thickness.