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Purpose: To assess the diagnostic power of the Corneal Visualization Scheimpflug Technology (Corvis ST) provided corneal biomechanical parameters in keratoconic corneas. Methods: The following biomechanical parameters of 48 keratoconic eyes were compared with the corresponding ones in 50 normal eyes: time of the first applanation and time from start to the second applanation [applanation-1 time (A1T) and applanation-2 time (A2T)], time of the highest corneal displacement [highest concavity time (HCT)], magnitude of the displacement [highest concavity deformation amplitude (HCDA)], the length of the flattened segment in the applanations [first applanation length (A1L) and second applanation length (A2L)], velocity of corneal movement during applanations [applanation-1 velocity (A1V) and applanation-2 velocity (A2V)], distance between bending points of the cornea at the highest concavity [highest concavity peak distance (HCPD)], central concave curvature at the highest concavity [highest concavity radius (HCR)]. To assess the change of parameters by disease severity, the keratoconus group was divided into two subgroups, and their biomechanical parameters were compared with each other and with normal group. The parameters' predictive ability was assessed by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. To control the effect of central corneal thickness (CCT) difference between the two groups, two subgroups with similar CCT were selected, and the analyses were repeated. Results: Of the 10 parameters compared, the means of the 8 were significantly different between groups (P 0.05). ROC curve analyses showed excellent distinguishing ability for A1T and HCR [area under the curve (AUC) > 0.9], and good distinguishing ability for A2T, A2V, and HCDA (0.9 > AUC > 0.7). A1T reading was able to correctly identify at least 93% of eyes with keratoconus (cut-off point 7.03). In two CCT matched subgroups, A1T showed an excellent distinguishing ability again. Conclusions: The A1T seems a valuable parameter in the diagnosis of keratoconic eyes. It showed excellent diagnostic ability even when controlled for CCT. None of the parameters were reliable index for keratoconus staging. Keywords: Keratoconus, Cornea, Corvis ST, Biomechanics

Purpose: To develop the Persian version of MNREAD acuity charts and test their repeatability in a normal adult population. Methods: Two hundred sentences were constructed using the most frequent words of 8-year-olds schoolbooks. The number of characters and sentence length were adjusted based on the design principles of the Minnesota Low Vision Reading Test. Two Persian language teachers checked the sentences for syntax and meaning. The accepted sentences were read by 20 adults and then by 20 children. Using RADNER charts method, the sentences with inappropriate reading time and repeated errors were excluded. Thirty-eight sentences were approved to create charts. To check the charts' validity and repeatability, 20 adults read both charts and a paragraph of a daily newspaper. Reading acuity, critical print size, and maximum reading speed were calculated. The measured reading speeds were compared to the readers' reading speeds for a paragraph of a daily newspaper. Bland-Altman plots were used to evaluate the agreement between the two charts. Results: Thirty-eight selected sentences were used in the final printed charts. There were significant correlations between maximum reading speed for Charts 1 and 2 (r = 0.87, P < 0.0001), Chart 1 and newspaper paragraph (r = 0.73, P = 0.001), and Chart 2 and newspaper paragraph (r = 0.83, P = 0.0001). Correlations were observed between reading acuities and critical print sizes of two charts (r = 0.72, P < 0.002 and r = 0.77, P = 0.00). The 95% limits of agreement in reading acuity, critical print size, and reading speed between Charts 1 and 2 were ± 0.034 logMAR, ±0.11 logMAR, and ±8.00 words per minute, respectively. Conclusion: The designed Persian MNREAD charts are repeatable and could be used reliably to calculate near acuity, reading speed, and critical print size in Persian-speaking people.