Changes in conjunctival-scleral thickness after strabismus surgery measured with anterior segment optical coherence tomography.

PURPOSE: To evaluate changes in conjunctival-scleral thickness following strabismus surgery with anterior segment optical coherence tomography (AS-OCT).

STUDY DESIGN: Prospective, observational, consecutive case series.

METHODS: Distances between the conjunctival epithelium and inner scleral wall were measured with AS-OCT before and 3-5 months after strabismus surgery. The measurements were performed at 1.5 mm (limbus), 7.0 mm (insertion), and 8.0 mm (tendon) posterior to the scleral spur on the lateral rectus muscle (LR); and 1.5 mm (limbus), 4.0 mm (insertion), and 5.5 mm (tendon) posterior to the scleral spur on the medial rectus muscle (MR). Thirty-three extraocular muscles (20 LRs and 13 MRs) from 23 subjects were studied.

RESULTS: Thicknesses were significantly less at the insertion (0.95-0.78 mm; p < 0.001) and tendon (0.99-0.78 mm; p < 0.001) after LR recession and at the tendon (1.21-0.92 mm; p = 0.02) after MR recession. Thicknesses were significantly greater at the insertion (0.82-1.07 mm; p = 0.01) and tendon (0.95-1.28 mm; p = 0.01) after MR resection or plication and at the limbus, insertion, and tendon (0.75-0.90 mm, 0.94-1.19 mm, 1.03-1.28 mm, respectively; all p = 0.04) after LR resection or plication.

CONCLUSION: Conjunctival-scleral thicknesses showed various changes after recession and resection or plication. These findings may help detect previous surgical operations when conjunctival scarring and ciliary vessel changes are unclear.