Fourier Analysis on Regular and Irregular Astigmatism of Anterior and Posterior Corneal Surfaces in Fuchs Endothelial Corneal Dystrophy

• Published in: American journal of ophthalmology Vol. 223; pp. 33 - 41
• Main Authors: Oie, Yoshinori, Yasukura, Yuichi, Nishida, Nozomi, Koh, Shizuka, Kawasaki, Ryo, Maeda, Naoyuki, Jhanji, Vishal, Nishida, Kohji
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01.03.2021; Elsevier Limited
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Astigmatism - physiopathology; Asymmetry; Cornea; Cornea - pathology; Corneal Topography; Edema; Female; Fourier Analysis; Fuchs' Endothelial Dystrophy - physiopathology; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Patients; Slit Lamp Microscopy; Surgery; Tomography, Optical Coherence; Visual Acuity - physiology; Young Adult; Japan
• ISSN: 0002-9394; 1879-1891; 1879-1891
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ajo.2020.09.045

To conduct Fourier analysis on regular and irregular astigmatism of the anterior and posterior corneal surfaces using anterior segment optical coherence tomography in patients with Fuchs endothelial corneal dystrophy (FECD) Observational case series. This study included 75 eyes of 43 FECD patients and 34 eyes of 34 healthy subjects in Osaka University Hospital. Corneal dioptric data from the central 6-mm zone of the anterior and posterior corneal surface were expanded into spherical, regular astigmatism, asymmetry, and higher-order irregularity components using Fourier analysis. We analyzed the association between each component and modified Krachmer grade. There were significant differences in regular astigmatism, asymmetry, and higher-order irregularity components of the anterior corneal surface, and spherical, regular astigmatism, asymmetry, and higher-order irregularity components of the posterior corneal surface among modified Krachmer grades (P = .036, <.001, <.001, <.001, <.001, <.001, and <.001, respectively). Asymmetry component of the anterior and posterior corneal surfaces gradually increased with FECD progression. Higher-order irregularity components of the anterior and posterior corneal surfaces drastically increased in Grade 6. Many eyes had an axis of 0°-180° for the asymmetry component of the anterior surface and 180°-360° for that of the posterior surface. Patients with severe FECD had a larger amount of asymmetry and higher-order irregularity components of the anterior and posterior corneal surfaces. Patients with FECD up to Grade 5 were characterized by anterior and posterior flattening in the inferior cornea, and those with Grade 6 showed irregularity in the anterior and posterior corneal surfaces. •Asymmetry and higher-order irregularity by Fourier analysis increased in Fuchs endothelial corneal dystrophy (FECD).•Moderate FECD patients have inferior flattening of anterior and posterior cornea.•Severe FECD patients are characterized by irregularity of anterior and posterior cornea.•Better corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA) was significantly associated with a steeper spherical component, and smaller amounts of asymmetry in the anterior corneal surface.•Better CDVA was associated with a steeper spherical component, a smaller amount of asymmetry, and a higher-order irregularity component in the posterior corneal surface.