Abstract
Abstract: :
Purpose: To compare the distribution of central corneal thickness (CCT) between normal patients (pressure < 22 mmHg, normal optic nerves) and patients with primary open–angle glaucoma (POAG) or ocular hypertension (OHT; pressure > 23 mmHg without visual field or nerve damage). Methods: Prospective measurement of CCT on 510 patients from May to October of 2003. Patients with previous ocular surgeries were excluded. CCT (microns) was measured with an ultrasonic pachymeter (model DGH 550). Patients were divided into three groups: 318 normal patients, 65 patients with POAG, and 127 patients with OHT. Results: Mean (±SD) age was 56 ± 16.5 years (range 20–95 years). POAG patients were older (68.1 ± 13.4, p < 0.0001) than OHT (58.0 ± 1.2) and normal (52.7 ± 16.7) patients. OHT patients had a thicker CCT (576.2 ± 36.7, p < 0.00001) than the POAG (553.0 ± 36.6) and normal (555.1 ± 34.6) patients. CCT was similar (p = 0.165) in normal and POAG. Conclusions: CCT is significantly greater in OHT than POAG or normal patients. This relates to a greater percentage of eyes with CCT > 600 in OHT (24.2%) than patients with POAG (11.4%) or a normal, nonglaucoma examination (6.7%). The impact of CCT on applanation pressure measurement also should be considered in normal subjects.
Keywords: anterior segment • intraocular pressure • melanocytes