AIM: To explore the clinical application of Pentacam anterior segment analyzer in early keratoconus diagnosis.

METHODS: Selected 49 patients(49 eyes)with early keratoconus who were treated in our hospital from February 2019 to December 2019.According to the Rabinowitz diagnostic criteria, they were divided into 27 cases(27 eyes)in the clinical keratoconus group and 22 cases(22 eyes)in the subclinical keratoconus group. Another 20 cases(20 eyes)of normal eyes with myopia and astigmatism were selected as the control group. The Pentacam anterior segment analyzer was used to determine the index of surface variance(ISV), keratoconus index(KI), index of vertical asymmetry(IVA), central keratoconus index(CKI), index of highest decentration(IHD), index of highest asymmetry(IHA), aberration coefficient, minimum sagittal curvature(Rmin), corneal astigmatism(CYL), corneal anterior surface height(AE), maximum refractive power of the cornea and corneal posterior surface height(PE). Compare the detection values of the three groups of indicators, and draw the ROC curve, and analyze the clinical value of various indicators in diagnosing keratoconus.

RESULTS: The three groups of ISV, KI, IVA, CKI, IHD, IHA, ABR, Rmin, CYL, AE, Kmax and PE detection values were significantly different(P<0.05). Compared with the control group, the ISV, KI, IVA, CKI, IHD, IHA, ABR, Rmin, CYL, AE, Kmax and PE detection value in the clinical keratoconus group were statistically significant(P<0.05). Compared with the control group, the ISV, KI, IVA, CKI, IHD, IHA, ABR, Rmin, CYL, AE, Kmax and PE detection value in the clinical keratoconus group were statistic significant(P<0.05). The results of ROC curve analysis showed that the sensitivity and specificity of keratoconus in the clinical phase of IVA, KI, AE, PE, Rmin, IHD, Kmax, ISV and ABR were higher. IVA, Rmin, AE and PE diagnosis of subclinical keratoconus sensitivity and specificity were higher.

CONCLUSION: The Pentacam anterior segment analyzer accurately measures the morphological parameters of the anterior and posterior surface of the cornea, which plays an important role in the early clinical diagnosis of keratoconus.