title: Optical densitometric measurements of the cornea and lens in children with allergic rhinoconjunctivitis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Our aim was to investigate the impact of allergic rhinoconjunctivitis on corneal and lenticular optical densitometry, pachymetry and anterior chamber depth in children.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty-four patients who had allergic rhinoconjunctivitis (study group) and 54 age-matched healthy children (control group) were recruited in this cross-sectional and comparative study. Corneal and lenticular optical densitometry, pachymetry, corneal volume and anterior chamber depth measurements were taken with the Scheimpflug imaging system.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The lens density and anterior chamber depth were similar between the groups (p > 0.05), while corneal density and thickness were significantly higher in the study group (p < 0.05). Although the corneal volume was higher in children with allergic rhinoconjunctivitis, the difference was not statistically significant (p = 0.07).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The cornea is affected in allergic rhinoconjunctivitis in respect to optical density and thickness, while the anterior chamber and lens are not influenced.
authors.affiliation: Pamukkale University, Ophthalmology Department, Denizli, Turkey. gkhanpekel@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Gökhan
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pekel
authors.affiliation: Pamukkale University, Pediatric Allergy and Immunology Department, Denizli, Turkey.
authors.forename: Fatih
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Firinci
authors.affiliation: Pamukkale University, Ophthalmology Department, Denizli, Turkey.
authors.forename: Semra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Acer
authors.affiliation: Pamukkale University, Ophthalmology Department, Denizli, Turkey.
authors.forename: Seher
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kasikçi
authors.affiliation: Pamukkale University, Ophthalmology Department, Denizli, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ramazan
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Yagci
authors.affiliation: Pamukkale University, Pediatric Allergy and Immunology Department, Denizli, Turkey.
authors.forename: Emin
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Mete
authors.affiliation: Pamukkale University, Ophthalmology Department, Denizli, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ebru Nevin
authors.initials: EN
authors.lastname: Çetin
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000867:Anterior Chamber / Q000473:pathology; D002648:Child; D003233:Conjunctivitis, Allergic / Q000473:pathology*; D003315:Cornea / Q000473:pathology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003720:Densitometry; D006801:Humans; D007908:Lens, Crystalline / Q000473:pathology*; D065631:Rhinitis, Allergic / Q000473:pathology*
keywords: allergic rhinoconjunctivitis; anterior segment; cornea; lens; optical densitometry