Quantitative and comparative analysis of thermography parameters in posterior scleritis, choroiditis, and controls

Abstract

Purpose: To compare various ocular thermography parameters in posterior scleritis (PS), choroiditis (choroidal granuloma [CG], Vogt–Koyanagi–Harada [VKH] syndrome), central serous chorioretinopathy (CSCR), and healthy controls. Methods: This retrospective, observational, comparative study evaluated cases undergoing ocular thermography between April 2017 and October 2023. The study groups included cases of PS, CG, and VKH, while the control group comprised CSCR cases and healthy individuals. Various thermography parameters were assessed, which were as follows: Ocular surface temperature (OST), central corneal temperature (CCT), average scleral temperature (ST), nasal scleral temperature (nST), temperature difference between both the eyes (∆t), and difference between scleral and corneal temperatures (ST – CCT, nST – CCT). Results: It was found that ∆t was significantly higher in the PS group compared to the CG (P = 0.005), CSCR (P = 0.0001), and control groups (dilated control: P =0.006, undilated control: P = 0.0001). ST – CCT and nST – CCT were significantly higher in the undilated control and CSCR groups and significantly lower in the PS group. ST – CCT and nST – CCT showed less difference in the affected eyes compared to contralateral healthy eyes of PS and CG cases. OST, CCT, ST, and nST displayed statistically insignificant differences across all groups. Conclusion: It is advisable to focus on temperature differences between the affected and healthy eyes, or the difference between the central corneal and scleral temperature of the affected eye, utilizing parameters such as ∆t, ST – CCT, and nST – CCT. These composite parameters offer a more effective approach than individual measurements like OST, CCT, ST, and nST. Thermography can serve as a screening tool to suspect and differentiate PS.