Ectasia Screening

Diagnosing corneal ectasia at an early stage is of paramount importance, as it increases the chances of treatment success and preserving patients‘ vision over the long term. If detected at an early stage, the disease can often be fended off simply with a pair of spectacles or contact lenses. By contrast, advanced ectasia can sometimes only be countered with a corneal transplant.

Ectasia screening allows early detection of structural changes of the cornea, in particular keratoconus and astigmatism. It can also reveal deviations in corneal thickness, an important indicator of incipient ectasia. This can be vital in enabling treatment to start at an early stage and preventing vision impairment.

Specific parameters such as corneal hysteresis (CH) and the corneal resistance factor (CRF) supply important information on the stability and elasticity of the cornea. They are indispensable in assessing ectasia risk and therefore also major points to consider in planning and performing surgeries.

As one of the world’s leading and most innovative manufacturers in the field of ocular diagnostics, OCULUS is offering a unique combination for this purpose. Sharing the job between them, the OCULUS Pentacam® und OCULUS Corvis® ST are setting new standards in ectasia screening.

• The OCULUS Pentacam® uses the well-established Scheimpflug technology to analyze the anterior eye segment, supplying precision height and curvature data of the front and back corneal surface. This allows early detection of corneal ectasias on a scientific basis using the Belin/Ambrosio Enhanced Ectasia Display and the BAD D-Score.
• The OCULUS Corvis® ST uses a unique method to analyze the biomechanical properties of the cornea. This provides the user with precision measurements of intraocular pressure and as well as information on corneal stiffness. Machine learning algorithms such as the Corvis Biomechanical Index (CBI) make it easy to interpret the measurement results and allow conclusions to be drawn on the risk of corneal ectasia following refractive surgery.

The Tomographic Biomechanical Index (TBI) builds on the specific strengths of the two devices by assessing ectasia risk on the basis of a combined evaluation of the cornea’s biomechanical and geometric data, thus creating a solid foundation for clinical decisions. This gives you the level of safety you need in deciding which patients to accept for surgery.

Drawing on the latest AI know-how, an international group of experts put themselves to the task of refining the algorithm of the TBI. Their work has now made it possible to identify patients with subclinical keratoconus with even greater reliability.

Moreover, thanks to the body of normative data fed into them, the Pentacam® und Corvis® ST also offer you advantages in following up your patients. They enable you to simplify your decision making processes and streamline your workflow.

To learn more about corneal biomechanics, read on here.

• Contact lenses
  Special contact lenses such as rigid (RGP) or scleral contact lenses can improve quality of vision in patients with corneal ectasia by correcting irregularities of corneal shape.
• Corneal crosslinking (CXL)
  This minimally invasive treatment method makes use of UV light and riboflavin to strengthen the cornea and prevent an ectasia from progressing further.
• ICRS
  Intracorneal ring segments (ICRS) are indicated for contact lens intolerant patients with reduced visual acuity and a clear central cornea with the aim of correcting astigmatism and restoring vision.
• Corneal transplant
  In advanced cases, a corneal transplant (keratoplasty) may be necessary to restore vision.
• Refractive surgery
  Refractive surgeries such as LASIK can be an option for correcting refractive errors such as myopia, hyperopia or astigmatism. However, they are contraindicated in patients with ectasia.