Geometric Profiling of Corneal Limbal Dermoids for the Prediction of Surgical Outcomes

Abstract

Purpose: To search for novel geometric parameters for corneal limbal dermoids that enable the prediction of clinical and surgical outcomes. Methods: We reviewed the medical records and anterior segment photographs of 85 eyes of 85 patients with corneal limbal dermoids that had been surgically excised. Patients were assigned to the following 4 cohorts (multiple assignments allowed): postoperative visual acuity (cohort 1, n = 65), amblyopia (cohort 2, n = 67), postoperative scar formation (cohort 3, n = 51), and preoperative spontaneous progression of dermoids (cohort 4, n = 39). For geometric profiling, 11 geometric parameters of lesions, including orientation, angular width, and 9 ratio parameters, were preoperatively defined in each patient based on the digital anterior-segment photographs. Each geometric parameter and demographic variable were analyzed for correlation with postoperative outcomes (cohorts 1-3) and preoperative spontaneous dermoid progression (cohort 4). Results: The mean patient age at surgery was 6.0 +/- 6.3 years. Among the geometric and demographic parameters analyzed, the invaded angular axis of dermoid to corneal diameter ratio had the highest r coefficient (r= 0.728) in cohort 1 and best stratified patients in cohort 2 (cutoff > 0.48) and cohort 3 (cutoff > 0.56). No parameters were correlated with spontaneous dermoid progression in cohort 4. Conclusions: We devised geometric parameters to evaluate corneal limbal dermoids before surgery for the prediction of surgical outcomes. The invaded angular axis of dermoid to corneal diameter ratio value was the most significant factor associated with postoperative visual acuity, amblyopia development, and postoperative scarring.