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. 2016 Jun 11;28(3):117-22.
doi: 10.1016/j.joco.2016.05.004. eCollection 2016 Sep.

Age-related variations in corneal biomechanical properties

Farideh Sharifipour  1 , Mahmoodreza Panahi-Bazaz  1 , Roghayeh Bidar  1 , Aida Idani  2 , Bahman Cheraghian  3
Affiliations

Age-related variations in corneal biomechanical properties

Farideh Sharifipour et al. J Curr Ophthalmol. .

Abstract

Purpose: To determine age-related changes in corneal viscoelastic properties in healthy individuals.

Methods: This observational cross-sectional study was performed at the Department of Ophthalmology, Imam Khomeini Hospital, Ahvaz, Iran and included 302 healthy individuals in 6 age decades (range: 10-69 years). After complete ocular examination, corneal viscoelastic properties were measured by ocular response analyzer and central corneal thickness (CCT) by an ultrasonic pachymeter. Our main outcome measures were corneal viscoelastic properties in different age groups.

Results: Corneal hysteresis (CH) and corneal resistance factor (CRF) showed a significant negative correlation with age (P < 0.001 for both, r = -0.353 and r = -0.246, respectively). Female gender had significantly higher CH (P = 0.017) and CRF (P = 0.019). CH and CRF were significantly correlated (P < 0.001, r = 0.821). CCT showed a biphasic pattern with significantly higher thicknesses before 20 and after 50 years of age. CH and CRF were significantly correlated with CCT (P < 0.001 for both, r = 0.21 and r = 0.26, respectively) and intraocular pressure (IOP) (P < 0.001 for both, r = -0.474 and r = 0.598, respectively). Corneal-compensated IOP (IOPcc) was significantly higher after age 40 compared to age group <20 (p < 0.045). Goldmann-correlated IOP (IOPg) was significantly correlated with CCT (P = 0.001, r = 0.193), while IOPcc showed no correlation with CCT (P = 0.265, r = 0.062). CH was significantly higher in hyperopic eyes compared to emmetropic eyes (P = 0.009) and myopic eye (P < 0.001).

Conclusions: In this study, there was a decrease in CH and CRF with an increase in age. Hyperopia and female gender are associated with higher CH and CRF. CCT is higher toward the extremes of life and is significantly correlated with CH and CRF.

Keywords: Aging; Corneal hysteresis; Corneal resistance factor; Ocular response analyzer.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Corneal hysteresis (CH) changes with age. CH is significantly higher under age 20 and decreases over time. CI, Confidence interval.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Central corneal thickness (CCT) shows a biphasic pattern with higher thicknesses before age 20 and after 50. CI, Confidence interval.
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Corneal hysteresis (CH) shows a significant correlation with refraction in spherical equivalent [RFN (SE)], (P = 0.001, r = 0.187).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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