The correlations between Central Corneal Thickness and age, gender, intraocular pressure and refractive error of aged 12-60 years old in rural Thai community

Abstract

Objectives: To study the normal Central Corneal Thickness (CCT) and investigate the correlation between CCT and age, gender intraocular pressure and refractive error

Material and method: Population of age 12-60 years old were interviewed with standard questionnaire. Refractive error was measured and graded according to spherical equivalent power. Then intraocular pressure and central cornea thickness were measured by applanation tonometer and ultrasonic pachymeter, respectively. The data were analyzed using T-test, correlation and multivariate linear regression to identify mean CCT and correlation between age, gender, intraocular pressure, and refractive error.

Results: A total of 467 participants were enrolled into the study. One hundred and eighty-six (39.8%) were males and 281 (60.2%) were females. The average CCT was 535.2 +/- 29.9 microm. The mean CCT of right and left eyes were 535.3 +/- 30.4 microm, and 535.1 +/- 29.5 microm, respectively. The multivariate linear regression indicated that increasing in age would decrease the CCT 0.28 microm and an increasing of intraocular pressure would increase the CCT 1.4 microm statistically significance.

Conclusion: The CCT was independently related to the refractive error and gender Greater CCT was associated with higher intraocular pressure. Conversely, thinner cornea was correlated with older age group.