2.3. Study Procedures
astigmatism, inflammation, diopters
ASTIGMATISM, INFLAMMATION
The study included a selection visit 14 days before entering the study to check the inclusion criteria, provide full information of the characteristics of the study, and perform a standard medical history. The selection visit was followed by a baseline visit (visit 0), a visit on day 14 (±3 days) (visit 1), and a final visit on day 90 (±7 days) (visit 2). At baseline, the following ophthalmological examinations were performed: corrected and uncorrected visual acuity using an ETDRS optotype at 2 m distance from the observer; slit lamp biomicroscopy; corneal topography (PentacamOphthalmological variables were flat keratometry (K1, measured in diopters); steep keratometry (K2, diopters); maximum keratometry (Kmax, diopters); mean keratometry (Km, diopters); astigmatism axis (in degrees); degree of astigmatism (diopters); asphericity coefficient (Q) in the horizontal and vertical hemi-axes; corneal apex thickness (CAT, µm); central corneal thickness (CCT, µm); minimum corneal thickness (MCT, µm); chromatic aberration (CA, mm); IOP Goldmann applanation tonometer (GAT, mmHg); and IOP rebound (RBT, mmHg).Biochemical variables included lipidomic biomarkers, antioxidant biomarkers, and inflammatory biomarkers. The panel of fatty acids included the components of the main families of saturated fatty acids (SFAs) (myristic acid, palmitic acid, stearic acid, arachidic acid, behenic acid, and lignoceric acid); monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs) (palmitoleic acid, oleic acid, cis-vaccenic acid, gondoic acid, erucic acid, and nervonic acid); Antioxidant activity biomarkers were total antioxidant capacity (TAC), malondialdehyde (MDA), total glutathione (GSH), free GSH, and GSH/glutathione disulfide (GSSG).Biomarkers of inflammation included IL-1β, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, TNF-α, and vascular endothelial growth factor-A (VEGF-A).