Alterations in Corneal Sensitivity, Staining and Biomechanics of Alopecia Areata Patients: Novel Findings in a Case-Control Study

This case-control study involving 25 alopecia areata (AA) patients and 29 controls found that AA patients exhibited decreased corneal sensitivity, increased corneal staining, and more advanced cataracts. Additionally, AA patients showed significant alterations in corneal topography and biomechanics, including increased keratoconus index and Belin/Ambrosio deviation index, with some cases of keratoconus detected only in the AA group. These findings suggest a higher risk of corneal ectasia in AA patients, indicating the need for routine ophthalmological examinations to detect early stages of keratoconus and other corneal alterations. Despite the small sample size, the study emphasizes the importance of monitoring AA patients for ocular changes, potentially linked to inflammation and autoimmune factors.