Abstract
Purpose: :
The correlation between central corneal thickness, intraocular pressure, age and gender
Methods: :
In a pilot study 945 adults- 180 men and 765 women, whose age ranged in 18-89 years, were studied. The intraocular pressure was measured by indentation tonometer (Schiotz tonometer), CCT was measured by contact ultrasound pachymeter (Pocket Pachymeter, Quantel Medical, CP), respectively. Statistical analysis was made using SPSS 17.0 software. Correlations between groups were determined using Pearson two sided correlation coefficient.Firstly, a correlation between measured mean CCT, IOP and gender was made. Secondly, according to their age, the patients were divided into groups as follows: age 30 years or less, age between 31 and 40 years, 41 and 50 years, 51 and 60 years, 61 and 70 years, 71 and 80 years, age more than 80 years.
Results: :
The mean CCT of males was 548,91 (± 33,76) µm for the right eye (OD) and 549,43 (± 34,12) µm for the left eye (OS). The mean CCT of females was 546,69 (± 34,65) µm for OD and 546,99 (± 33,81) µm for OS. Mean IOP of males - 17,53 (± 3,85) mmHg for OD and 17,36 (± 3,40) mmHg for OS. Mean IOP of females - 17,52 (± 3,37) mmHg for OD and 17,62 (± 3,33) mmHg for OS.Pearson two sided correlation coefficient between mean CCT and subjects’ age was 0,125; mean CCT and IOP - 0,036. Only in women was an inverse correlation seen between CCT and age (r = -0.196, p < 0.001), but both genders had positive correlations between CCT and IOP (man: r = 0.057, p > 0.05; woman: r = 0.108, p < 0.001).
Conclusions: :
1. No significant difference in mean CCT was found between the right and left eyes or between male and female subjects. 2. CCT decreases and IOP increases with age. 3. CCT does not correlate with IOP in the overall study group, but it does correlate for subjects of 50 years and older increasing in each decade (confidence level (CL) - 99%).
Keywords: cornea: clinical science • anatomy • clinical (human) or epidemiologic studies: biostatistics/epidemiology methodology