Retinal thickness and vascular density changes in Keratoconus: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Purpose: This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to assess the changes in retinal layer thickness and vascular density in patients diagnosed with keratoconus (KC). Methods: We conducted a thorough search in PubMed, Scopus, Embase, and Web of Science, encompassing all observational studies fro...
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Elsevier
2025-01-01
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405844025004797 |
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| author | Hadi Vahedi Mirsaeed Abdollahi Reza Moshfeghinia Shima Emami Navid Sobhi Rana Sorkhabi Ali Jafarizadeh |
| author_facet | Hadi Vahedi Mirsaeed Abdollahi Reza Moshfeghinia Shima Emami Navid Sobhi Rana Sorkhabi Ali Jafarizadeh |
| author_sort | Hadi Vahedi |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Purpose: This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to assess the changes in retinal layer thickness and vascular density in patients diagnosed with keratoconus (KC). Methods: We conducted a thorough search in PubMed, Scopus, Embase, and Web of Science, encompassing all observational studies from January 1990 to February 2024. We analyzed the data using STATA software 17 and the random effects model with the restricted maximum likelihood (REML) or maximum likelihood (ML) method to pool the standardized mean difference (SMD) and the weighted mean difference (WMD) of retinal thickness and vascular density compared to non-KC eyes. Results: From 4608 records, 16 primary studies met our inclusion criteria, involving 1932 eyes in two groups. The meta-analysis revealed a significant reduction in retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness (SMD: −0.30 [-0.52, −0.08]), perifoveal macular thickness in the nasal region (SMD: −0.32 [-0.55, −0.09]) and superior region (SMD: −0.24 [-0.47, −0.02]), and superior capillary plexus (SCP) density (SMD: −1.52 [-2.27, −0.77]) of KC eyes. Additionally, there was a mildly to moderately significant increase in the optic nerve head (ONH) disk area (SMD: 0.40 [0.06, 0.75]). However, there were no significant changes in foveal macular thickness, parafoveal macular thickness, or deep capillary plexus (DCP) density. Conclusion: In KC patients, significant alterations in retinal structure and vascular density have been observed. Although these changes do not currently influence treatment strategies, they offer valuable insights into the relationship between the retina and the cornea. Understanding these changes may be essential for future research focused on early detection, potential prognosis markers, and further exploration of the retina-corneal connection in KC. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-c542868920c74eed8486ecdc3a90d77b |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2405-8440 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Heliyon |
| spelling | doaj-art-c542868920c74eed8486ecdc3a90d77b2025-02-02T05:28:59ZengElsevierHeliyon2405-84402025-01-01112e42099Retinal thickness and vascular density changes in Keratoconus: A systematic review and meta-analysisHadi Vahedi0Mirsaeed Abdollahi1Reza Moshfeghinia2Shima Emami3Navid Sobhi4Rana Sorkhabi5Ali Jafarizadeh6Nikookari Eye Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, IranNikookari Eye Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, IranStudent Research Committee, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, IranResearch Center for Evidence-Based Medicine, Iranian EBM Centre: A Joanna Briggs Institute Affiliated Group, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, IranNikookari Eye Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, IranNikookari Eye Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran; Department of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medicine, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran; Corresponding author. Nikookari Eye Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.Nikookari Eye Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran; Corresponding author. Nikookari Eye Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.Purpose: This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to assess the changes in retinal layer thickness and vascular density in patients diagnosed with keratoconus (KC). Methods: We conducted a thorough search in PubMed, Scopus, Embase, and Web of Science, encompassing all observational studies from January 1990 to February 2024. We analyzed the data using STATA software 17 and the random effects model with the restricted maximum likelihood (REML) or maximum likelihood (ML) method to pool the standardized mean difference (SMD) and the weighted mean difference (WMD) of retinal thickness and vascular density compared to non-KC eyes. Results: From 4608 records, 16 primary studies met our inclusion criteria, involving 1932 eyes in two groups. The meta-analysis revealed a significant reduction in retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness (SMD: −0.30 [-0.52, −0.08]), perifoveal macular thickness in the nasal region (SMD: −0.32 [-0.55, −0.09]) and superior region (SMD: −0.24 [-0.47, −0.02]), and superior capillary plexus (SCP) density (SMD: −1.52 [-2.27, −0.77]) of KC eyes. Additionally, there was a mildly to moderately significant increase in the optic nerve head (ONH) disk area (SMD: 0.40 [0.06, 0.75]). However, there were no significant changes in foveal macular thickness, parafoveal macular thickness, or deep capillary plexus (DCP) density. Conclusion: In KC patients, significant alterations in retinal structure and vascular density have been observed. Although these changes do not currently influence treatment strategies, they offer valuable insights into the relationship between the retina and the cornea. Understanding these changes may be essential for future research focused on early detection, potential prognosis markers, and further exploration of the retina-corneal connection in KC.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405844025004797KeratoconusRetinal thicknessVascular densityOptical coherence tomographyMeta-analysisSystematic review |
| spellingShingle | Hadi Vahedi Mirsaeed Abdollahi Reza Moshfeghinia Shima Emami Navid Sobhi Rana Sorkhabi Ali Jafarizadeh Retinal thickness and vascular density changes in Keratoconus: A systematic review and meta-analysis Heliyon Keratoconus Retinal thickness Vascular density Optical coherence tomography Meta-analysis Systematic review |
| title | Retinal thickness and vascular density changes in Keratoconus: A systematic review and meta-analysis |
| title_full | Retinal thickness and vascular density changes in Keratoconus: A systematic review and meta-analysis |
| title_fullStr | Retinal thickness and vascular density changes in Keratoconus: A systematic review and meta-analysis |
| title_full_unstemmed | Retinal thickness and vascular density changes in Keratoconus: A systematic review and meta-analysis |
| title_short | Retinal thickness and vascular density changes in Keratoconus: A systematic review and meta-analysis |
| title_sort | retinal thickness and vascular density changes in keratoconus a systematic review and meta analysis |
| topic | Keratoconus Retinal thickness Vascular density Optical coherence tomography Meta-analysis Systematic review |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405844025004797 |
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