Novel Method of Measuring Corneal Viscoelasticity Using the Corvis ST Tonometer

Background: The process of rapid propagation of the corneal deformation in air puff tonometer depends not only on intraocular pressure, but also on the biomechanical properties of the cornea and anterior eye. One of the biomechanical properties of the cornea is viscoelasticity, which is the most visible in its high-speed deformations. It seems reasonable to link the corneal viscoelasticity parameter to two moments of the highest speed of corneal deformations, when the cornea buckles. The aim of this work is to present a method of determining the time and place of occurrence of corneal buckling, examine spatial and temporal dependencies between two corneal applanations and bucklings in the Corvis ST tonometer, and correlate these dependencies with corneal viscoelastic properties. Methods: Images of the horizontal cross section of the Corvis ST deformed cornea from the air puff tonometer Corvis ST were used. 14 volunteers participated in the study, each of them had one eye measured eight times. Mutual changes in the profile slopes of the deformed corneas were numerically determined. They describe pure corneal deformation, eliminating the influence of rotation, and displacement of the entire eyeball. For each point in the central area of the corneal profile, the maximum velocities of mutual slope changes accompanying the applanations were estimated. The times of their occurrence were adopted as buckling times. Results: The propagation of buckling along the corneal profile is presented, as well as the repeatability and mutual correlations between the buckling parameters and intraocular pressure. Based on the relationship between them, a new parameter describing corneal hysteresis: Corvis Viscoelasticity (CVE) is introduced. It is characterized by high repeatability: ICC = 0.82 (0.69–0.93 CI) and low and insignificant correlation with intraocular pressure: r = 0.25 (p-value = 0.38). Conclusion: The results show for the first time how to measure the corneal buckling and viscoelastic effects with Corvis ST. CVE is a new proposed biomechanical parameter related to the viscoelastic properties of the cornea, which has high repeatability for the examined subject. The distribution of its values is planned to be tested on different groups of patients in order to investigate its clinical applicability.

Association of Iris Structural Measurements with Corneal Biomechanics in Myopic Eyes

Purpose. To evaluate the relationship between iris sectional parameters on swept-source optical coherence tomography (SS-OCT) with corneal biomechanics measured by Corneal Visualization Scheimpflug Technology (Corvis ST) in young adults with myopia. Methods. 117 patients with myopia aged ≥18 years were recruited from the Eye Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, who had complete SS-OCT and Corvis ST data. Only the left eye of each participant was selected for analysis. Iris sectional parameters included iris thickness at 750 μm from the scleral spur (IT750), iris sectional area (I-area), and iris curvature (I-curv) measured from four quadrants. Associations between the iris parameters and corneal biomechanics were analyzed using linear regression models. Results. The mean age of the included young adults was 26.26 ± 6.62 years old with 44 males and 73 females. The iris parameters were different among the four quadrants. The nasal, temporal, and inferior quadrants of IT750, together with nasal and temporal quadrants of I-area, were correlated with corneal biomechanical parameters after being adjusted for age, gender, pupil diameter, and axial length. Thicker IT750 and larger I-area were related to a softer cornea. However, no association was found between I-curv and corneal biomechanics. Conclusions. Iris sectional parameters measured from SS-OCT images were associated with corneal biomechanical properties in myopic eyes. Thicker IT750 and larger I-area indicate a softer cornea. IT750 and I-area may provide useful information on corneal biomechanical properties in myopic eyes.

Repeatability and comparison of Corvis ST parameters before and after accelerated transepithelial corneal cross-linking in keratoconus eyes

AIM: To evaluate the repeatability and comparison of corneal visualization scheimpflug technology (Corvis ST) parameters in keratoconus eyes before and after accelerated transepithelial corneal cross-linking (ATE-CXL). METHODS: Thirty eyes of 30 progressive keratoconus patients were included in the prospective study. Three repeated corneal biomechanical measurements were performed preoperatively and one month postoperatively by Corvis ST. The interclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and 95% confidence interval (CI), Cronbach’ α, repeatability coefficient (RC), and coefficient of variation (CV) were used to evaluate the repeatability of Corvis ST parameters. Paired t test or Wilcoxon rank test was used to evaluate the differences between preoperative and postoperative data. RESULTS: At preoperative, 26 of 39 (66.67%) parameters showed good to excellent repeatability, 6 (15.38%) showed moderate, and 7 (17.95%) showed poor repeatability. Similarly, 34 (87.18%) parameters showed good to excellent repeatability, 3 (7.69%) showed moderate, and 2 (5.13%) showed poor repeatability after ATE-CXL. After ATE-CXL 1mo, the intraocular pressure (IOP), biomechanical corrected IOP (bIOP), first applanation time (A1T), Radius, deformation amplitude at the first applanation (A1DA), deflection length at the maximum deformation (HCDLL) and stiffness parameter at first applanation (SP A1) parameters increased, while the steep keratometry (Ks), flat keratometry (Kf), mean keratometry (Kmean), second applanation time (A2T), DA Ratio Max (2 mm) and integrated radius parameters decreased (all P<0.05). CONCLUSION: The repeatability of the Corvis ST parameters before and 1mo ATE-CXL follow up were both acceptable, and the corneal stiffness was improved after 1-month ATE-CXL.

Comparison of intraocular pressure obtained by Goldmann applanation tonometer, Corvis ST and an airpuff tonometer in healthy adults

Purpose To assess the agreement among four types of intraocular pressure (IOP) measurements: IOP obtained by Goldmann applanation tonometer (IOP-GAT),IOP obtained by an air-puff tonometer (Nidek NT-510)(IOP-NCT), the non-corrected IOP obtained by the Corneal Visualization Scheimpflug Technology (IOP-Corvis) and the biomechanically corrected IOP obtained by the Corvis ST (bIOP-Corvis) in healthy patients with a broad spectrum of IOP values. Methods: This prospective, observational study recruited 113 healthy individuals. Each patient underwent IOP evaluation via GAT, Nidek NT-510 and Corvis ST. Difference in mean in IOP readings was assessed by one-way repeated-measures analysis of variance (ANOVA).Tonometer intermethod agreement was assessed by the Bland-Altman method. The difference between the four IOP measurements was correlated against corneal (CCT) and age with Pearson’s correlation test. Results: IOP-Corvis showed the highest values (16.59 ± 3.08 mmHg),followed by IOP-NCT (16.05 ± 3.43 mmHg), IOP-GAT (15.62 ± 3.08 mmHg) and bIOP-Corvis (15.10 ± 2.67 mmHg).There were statistically significant differences in IOP measurements among all the ANOVA pairwise comparisons except between IOP-GAT and bIOP-Corvis ( p = 0.07),as well as between IOP-GAT and IOP-NCT ( p = 0.25). Bland Altman analysis revealed a notable bias (all p < 0.05) among IOP-GAT and bIOP-Corvis, IOP-GAT and IOP-Corvis, IOP-GAT and IOP-NCT, bIOP-Corvis and IOP-Corvis, bIOP-Corvis and IOP-NCT,IOP-Corvis and IOP-NCT of 0.51, −0.97, −0.43, −1.49, −0.95, 0.53 mmHg respectively. We observed a strong correlation of the difference between bIOP-Corvis and IOP-Corvis with CCT and patient age. Conclusion: Compared with GAT and Nidek NT-510, the Corvis-derived IOPs were recorded either the highest as IOP-Corvis or the lowest as bIOP-Corvis. Even if the differences among the tonometers were relatively small, the IOP values obtained with the Corvis ST, NCT and GAT were not interchangeable.

Detecting subclinical keratoconus by biomechanical analysis in tomographically regular keratoconus fellow eyes

Purpose To analyze the tomographically non-affected second eyes of keratoconus patients using the Corvis ST to detect any biomechanical abnormalities or subclinical keratoconus. Methods In this retrospective, single-center, consecutive case series 244 eyes of 122 keratoconus patients were analyzed between November 2020 and February 2021. Fourteen fellow eyes fulfilled the inclusion criteria and showed no clinical or tomographic signs of keratoconus. Main outcome measures included best-corrected visual acuity, tomographic and biomechanical analyses using Scheimpflug imaging: Pentacam and Corvis ST (Oculus, Wetzlar, Germany). Tomographic analyses included anterior and posterior simulated keratometry, K-Max, central corneal thickness, thinnest corneal thickness, Belin/Ambrosio Ectasia Display, and the ABCD grading system. For biomechanical analyses, the corneal biomechanical index (CBI) and tomographic biomechanical index were used. Results The mean best-corrected visual acuity was 0.01 ± 0.10 logMAR. Mean K-Max was 43.79 ± 1.12 D, mean central corneal thickness 529 ± 25 µm, mean thinnest corneal thickness 524 ± 23 µm, and mean Belin/Ambrosio Ectasia Display 1.0 ± 0.32. The mean CBI was 0.30 ± 0.21. Regular CBI values were found in six of 14 patients. The mean tomographic biomechanical index was 0.47 ± 0.22 with regular values observed in only two of 14 patients. No signs of tomographic or biomechanical abnormalities were shown in only one of 14 keratoconus fellow eyes, with regular ABCD, Belin/Ambrosio Ectasia Display, CBI and tomographic biomechanical index values. Conclusions Tomographically normal fellow eyes of keratoconus patients are rare. In these cases, a biomechanical analysis of the cornea may help detect a subclinical keratoconus. The tomographic biomechanical index was the most sensitive index to verify a mild ectasia.

Effect of Mydriasis-Caused Intraocular Pressure Changes on Corneal Biomechanical Metrics

Purpose: To evaluate the dependence of biomechanical metrics on intraocular pressure (IOP).Methods: 233 refractive surgery patients were included in this study—all were examined 3 times with the Corvis ST before and after dilation, and the differences (∆) in the main device parameters were assessed. The data collected included the biomechanically corrected IOP (bIOP), the central corneal thickness (CCT), and six dynamic corneal response (DCR) parameters, namely DA, DARatio2mm, IIR, SP-A1, CBI, and SSI. Participants were divided into three groups according to the changes in patients’ bIOP after mydriasis.Results: Intra-operator repeatability was generally high in most of the DCR parameters obtained before and after dilation. The mean changes in bIOP and CCT after dilation were −0.12 ± 1.36 mmHg and 1.95 ± 5.23 μm, respectively. Only ∆DARatio2mm, ∆IIR, and ∆CBI exhibited a statistically significant correlation with ∆CCT (p &lt; 0.05). The changes in all DCR parameters, especially ∆DA and ∆SP-A1 were also correlated with ∆bIOP (p &lt; 0.01)—a 1-mmHg change in bIOP was associated, on average, with 5.612 and −0.037 units of change in SP-A1 and DA, respectively. In contrast, the weakest correlation with ∆bIOP was exhibited by ∆SSI.Conclusion: Most corneal DCR parameters, provided by the Corvis ST, were correlated with IOP, and more weakly with CCT. Changes experienced in CCT and IOP should therefore be considered in studies on corneal biomechanics and how it is affected by disease progression and surgical or medical procedures.

Association between Iris Biological Features and Corneal Biomechanics in Myopic Eyes

Purpose. Iris biological features such as surface features and profile characteristics reflected the development of iris stroma and microvessels. Iris vessels and microcirculation are still lack of effective detection methods, and we can directly observe only the iris surface biological characteristics. This cross-sectional study evaluated the association between iris surface biological features and corneal biomechanics in young adults with myopia. Methods. We recruited 152 patients with myopia aged ≥18 years, from the Eye Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, who had complete Corneal Visualization Scheimpflug Technology (Corvis ST) data and graded iris surface features. Iris surface features included crypts, furrows, and color measured from digital slit lamp images. The biomechanical properties of the cornea were assessed using Corvis ST. Only 1 eye of each participant was randomly selected for analysis. Associations between the iris surface features and corneal biomechanics were analyzed using linear regression models. The grade of iris crypts, furrows, and color and corneal biomechanical parameters measured with Corvis ST was the main outcome measures. Results. The iris crypts were significantly associated with deflection amplitude at the first applanation (A1 DLA, β = 0.001 , P = 0.013 ), A1 delta arc length (A1 dArcL) ( β = − 0.001 , P = 0.01 ), maximum delta arc length (dArcLM) ( β = − 0.004 , P = 0.03 ), and stiffness at the first applanation (SP-A1) ( β = − 2.092 , P = 0.016 ). The iris furrows were only associated with integrated radius ( β = − 0.212 , P = 0.025 ). Iris color was found not related with corneal biomechanical parameters measured via Corvis ST. Conclusions. Iris surface features were associated with corneal biomechanical properties in myopic eyes; more iris crypts were associated with lower corneal stiffness while more extensive furrows were related with higher corneal stiffness. Iris crypts and furrows may provide useful information on corneal biomechanical properties in myopic eyes.