Clinical applications of corneal Scheimpflug densitometry in DSAEK and cornea guttata patients

Abstract Purpose The aim of this project is to study clinical applications of corneal Scheimpflug densitometry. In the first part of the study a correlation between corneal Scheimpflug densitometry and endothelial cell count in cornea guttata will be studied. The second part will investigate a possible correlation between the smoothness of the corneal graft and postoperative visual acuity in DSAEK patients. Methods Cross‐sections of corneal Scheimpflug images will be analyzed by means of custom written software. Parameters such as average densitometry profile, position and intensity of the Bowman membrane and corneal endothelium peaks, as well as the position and intensity of the interface between an acceptor cornea and the DSAEK graft (if present) will be calculated. Results The method to analyze the corneal densitometry has already been developed and tested on corneas of contact lens wearers and post refractive surgery patients. A small number of DSAEK en cornea guttata eyes have been analyzed as well, demonstrating the potential of this technique in these patients. Conclusion Corneal Scheimpflug densitometry may be complementary to endothelial cell count in monitoring the disease progression in cornea guttata patients. Corneal Scheimpflug images may also be considered a predictor for visual outcome after DSAEK if the postoperative visual acuity variations in DSAEK patients can be linked to wrinkles in the posterior surface of the graft.