Pediatrik Beta-Talasemi Majörde Vitreus Kamara Uzunluğu, Korneal Hacim ve Glob Biyometrisinin Kesitsel Vaka Kontrollü Entegre Analizi

Abstract

Objective: To determine ocular changes, particularly in vitreous chamber length (VCL) and corneal volume (CV), analyze globe biometric features in emmetrope pediatric beta-thalassemia major (βTM) patients using Cirrus topography and IOLMaster devices, and compare the results to age- and gender-matched healthy individuals. Material and Methods: This cross-sectional case-control study included 36 multi-transfused β-TM patients (Group 1, 72 eyes) with a mean age of 9.18±3.14 years and no other hemoglobinopathies or anemias unrelated to β-TM. A control group (Group 2, 72 eyes) included 36 healthy children who had routine ophthalmology exams. A comprehensive ophthalmologic exam was performed, including auto-refraction, best-corrected visual acuity, and intraocular pressure (IOP), followed by dilated slit-lamp biomicroscopy. The corneal topography and globe biometric evaluation were followed by a pair-wise data comparison. Results: The axial length (AL) (22.58±0.64 vs 23.06±0.71 mm), VCL (15.48±0.68 vs 15.92±0.69 mm), CV (55.47±2.95 vs 57.65±2.83 mm3), IOP (12.68±2.34 vs 11.08±1.68 mmHg), keratometry values (K1, K2, Kmean, Kapex), as well as central corneal thickness (523.00±28.41 vs 547.29±26.45 μm), were all significantly different between groups 1 and 2, respectively (p0.05). Conclusion: β-TM patients appear to have significant ocular growth retardation than relatively age-matched healthy children, as demonstrated by shorter AL and VCL, as well as lower CV. This circumstance could have prompted compensatory biometric modifications, as evidenced by a relatively steeper cornea and thicker crystalline lens, to accomplish emmetropization.