Levels of Collagen Degradation Products (Telopeptides) in the Tear Film of Patients with Keratoconus

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Abstract
Levels of collagen degradation products (telopeptides) in the tear film of patients with keratoconus were measured to study the release of telopeptides in the tears. Tear samples were collected from 26 keratoconus patients and 36 age-similar human control subjects. Levels of telopeptides were quantified and compared between the two groups. The telopeptide level in tears from keratoconus patients was 2.5-fold higher than in tears from the control group. The telopeptide concentration was age-dependent in both groups. In tears from young people, telopeptide level was 2-fold higher than in tears from the older people. The tear film of patients with keratoconus contains higher levels of telopeptides than those of control subjects. Determination of telopeptide levels in tears could be useful for the follow-up of keratoconus development in patients.