May 2005
Volume 46, Issue 13
Free
ARVO Annual Meeting Abstract  |   May 2005
Central Corneal Thickness in an Older Population: The Blue Mountains Eye Study
P.R. Healey; P. Mitchell; E. Rochtchina; A.J. Lee; E.–M. Chia; J.J. Wang
Author Affiliations & Notes
  • P.R. Healey
    Center Vision Research, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
  • P. Mitchell
    Center Vision Research, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
  • E. Rochtchina
    Center Vision Research, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
  • A.J. Lee
    Center Vision Research, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
  • E.–M. Chia
    Center Vision Research, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
  • J.J. Wang
    Center Vision Research, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
  • Footnotes
    Commercial Relationships  P.R. Healey, None; P. Mitchell, None; E. Rochtchina, None; A.J. Lee, None; E. Chia, None; J.J. Wang, None.
  • Footnotes
    Support  Australian NHMRC grant 211069
Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science May 2005, Vol.46, 3520. doi:
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      P.R. Healey, P. Mitchell, E. Rochtchina, A.J. Lee, E.–M. Chia, J.J. Wang; Central Corneal Thickness in an Older Population: The Blue Mountains Eye Study . Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci. 2005;46(13):3520.

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Abstract

Abstract: : Purpose: To describe the distribution and associations of central corneal thickness (CCT) in an older, largely Caucasian, population in Australia. Methods: The Blue Mountains Eye Study examined 3654 participants aged 49+ years during 1992–4 (baseline), 2335 (75% of 3111 survivors) at 5–years (1997–9) and 1935 (75.0% of 2581 survivors) at 10–year (2002–4) exams. CCT measurements were performed in 1343 participants at the 10–year exam. Those with and without these measurements did not differ significantly by age or gender. Multiple measurements were taken using ultrasonic pachymetry and averaged for each eye. Results: CCT was normally distributed with a mean of 540 microns (SD 34) for R eyes and 539 microns (SD 34) for left eyes, p=0.0003. It ranged from 418 to 661 microns. Mean CCT decreased with age, from 542 microns for ages 60–69, 541 microns for ages 70–79, 537 microns for ages 80–89 to 521 microns for 90+ years. These means were only minimally affected by adjustment for gender and intraocular pressure (IOP) level. Men had slightly thicker mean CCT than women (538 vs 534, p=0.05). Increased CCT was associated with increased IOP; CCT increased from 527 microns for IOP<10 mmHg to 550 microns for IOP >25 mmHg. Eyes with ocular hypertension at baseline had slightly thicker corneas (mean age–IOP adjusted CCT 547 microns) and eyes with open–angle glaucoma had slightly thinner corneas (mean age–IOP adjusted CCT 523 microns). Conclusions: Central corneal thickness is normally distributed and decreases with age. Mean corneal thickness was increased among subjects with ocular hypertension and reduced among subjects with open–angle glaucoma.

Keywords: clinical (human) or epidemiologic studies: risk factor assessment • clinical (human) or epidemiologic studies: prevalence/incidence • cornea: clinical science 
© 2005, The Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology, Inc., all rights reserved. Permission to republish any abstract or part of an abstract in any form must be obtained in writing from the ARVO Office prior to publication.
Copyright © 2025 Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology.
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