evaluation and comparison of posterior corneal elevation parameters in different grades of keratoconus by pentacam

To evaluate and compare posterior corneal elevation data and anterior segment parameters in different grades of keratoconus by pentacam. 114 eyes of 114 keratoconic patients (85 men and 56 women) with a mean age of 31.6±4.7 years were evaluated with a pentacam scheimpflug camera. keratoconic eyes were divided into 3 groups or grades according to the maximum keratometry reading: mild or grade i (k=50 or less than 50 diopters [d]), moderate or grade ii (k=50.0 to 55.0 d), and severe or grade iii (k=55.0 d or higher). the posterior corneal parameters were obtained posterior. there were no statistically significant differences between keratoconus grades in terms of sex (p=0.661). also, there were no statistically significant differences between 3 grades in terms of age (p=0.214). there were statistically significant differences in anterior keratometry readings (k), anterior chamber depth (acd), anterior chamber angle (aca), and all pachymetric corneal measurements between all groups. with the progression of the disease, posterior k readings and all posterior elevation measurements were statistically different between the three grades. however, there were no significant differences in pupil diameter, anterior chamber volume (acv), and corneal volume (cv) between the three grades of keratoconus. according to the results of this study, height data of posterior elevation, when combined with corneal anterior segment parameter, could provide a useful keratoconus severity classification tool.