Central Corneal Thickness In Ocular Hypertensive, Glaucomatous And Normal Eyes

Objective To characterize the central corneal thickness (CCT) of patients with ocular hypertension(OHT),primary open-angle glaucoma(POAG),chronic angle-closure glaucoma(CACG) and normal controls.Methods Central corneal thickness was measured by means of ultrasound pachymetry in the participants with ocular hypertensive,glaucomatous and normal eyes and was compaired among the four groups. The relationship between CCT and intraocular pressure, axial length, corneal curvature, refraction(spherical equivalent), age, and gender was investigated respectively.Results The mean CCT of all participants was 558 ± 40μm. CCT of POAG(545 ± 31μm),CACG(553±38μm) and normal controls(536 ± 37μm) did not significantly differ. The CCT of patients with OHT(591±29μm) was significantly thicker than the other three groups (P≤ 0.001). There was negative correlation between CCT and age (Pearson r=-0.270, P=0.010) . There was no correlation between CCT and axial length (Pearson r=0.157, p=0.137);refraction(spherical equivalent) (Pearson r=-0.114, p=0.282) , horizontal corneal curvature( Pearson r=-0.167, P=0.114) and vertical corneal curvature (Pearson r=-0.034, p=0.746). There was positive correlation between CCT and intraocular pressure in normal control group (Pearson r=0.499,P=0.009).Conclusion The mean CCT is significantly thicker in ocular hypertensive eyes than those in normal or glaucomatous eyes .There is no statistical difference among normal eyes and eyes with POAG and CACG . There is negative correlation between CCT and age. There is no correlation between CCT and axial length, refraction and corneal curvature. Intraocular pressure is positively related with CCT in normal eyes . CCT may influence the diagnosis and management of patients with glaucoma and ocular hypertension for its effect on the accuracy of applanation tonometry.