Measurements of cornea, sclera, choroid and fovea thicknesses of patients with rheumatoid arthritis and comparision with the control group

In this study we aimed to compare the cornea, sclera, choroid and fovea thicknesses of patients with rheumatoid arthritis and healty subjects by using anterior segment optical coherence tomography (OCT) and Enhanced depth imaging optical coherence tomography (EDI-OCT). Thirty six eyes of 36 female patients, who were being followed by Baskent University Rheumatology Department with the diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis were included in this study. Thirty six eyes of 36 female healthy volunteers were included and designed as the control group. Average corneal thickness of the patient and the control group was 543.3±5.6 μm, and 549.9±4.9 μm respectively and there was no statistical difference between the two groups (p>0.05). Average scleral thickness of the patient and the control group was 343.7±9.5 μm and 420.9±7.0 μm respectively and the difference was statistically significant (p<0.001). In patient group average vertical retinal thickness from central fovea to retinal pigment epithelium was 213.5 ± 3.1 μm, while in the control group this value was 222±2.5 μm and there was no statistical difference between the two groups (p>0.05). The total average choroid thicknesses were compared between patient and the control group and there was no statistical difference between the two groups (p>0.05). Duration of the disease and scleral thicknesses were also compared, but there was no correlation found between them. This study shows that screal thinning occurs in patients with rheumatoid arthritis which could be caused by chronic inflammatory process in rheumatoid arthritis. Patients with rheumatoid arthritis should be followed carefully for possible scleral thinning and perforations.