Keratoconus-like cornea in welders
Mohammadreza Asadollahi1 *, Amir Asharlous1 , Mehdi Khabazkhoob 2
- Noor Research Center for Ophthalmic Epidemiology, Noor Eye Hospital, Tehran, Iran
- Department of Medical Surgical Nursing, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Abstract: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the topographic status of the welders’ corneas
Methods: In this historical cohort, a group of welders (with at least 5 years’ experience in welding) and a control group were assessed and compared. Lack of exposure to welding for three months or more was considered a exclusion criterion. In all participants, after taking a complete history of visual and ocular problems, both eyes underwent Pentacam imaging. Then, all subjects received slit lamp biomicroscopy for evaluation of ocular surface diseases
Results: The data of 140 welders (mean age: 46.66±13.01 years) and 172 controls (mean age: 45.05±12.61 years) were analyzed. The welders’ corneas had significantly higher eccentricity (P<0.0001), keratometry readings (P<0.0001), and cylinder power (P<0.0001). The central, inferior, and nasal cornea were significantly thinner in the welders than controls (P<0.0001) while the difference was not significant in the superior was temporal cornea. All indexes of corneal irregularity except for the central keratoconus index (CKI) and index of height asymmetry (IHA) were higher in welders than the control group (P<0.0001).
Conclusion: According to the results of this study, the welders’ corneas are topographically irregular and imitate a keratoconus-like pattern. Welders exhibits characteristics like steeper keratometry readings, higher eccentricity index, lower thickness of the central, inferior, and nasal cornea, and higher indexes of corneal irregularity, especially the CKI, which are probably caused by chronic dryness and frequent eyelid rubbing and should be distinguished from true keratoconic changes of the cornea.
