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Abstract #8226 Published in IGR 4-3
The corneal thickness and intraocular pressure story: where are we now?
Lee GA; Khaw PT; Ficker LA; Shah PClinical and Experimental Ophthalmology 2002; 30: 334-337
A review of the current literature was conducted regarding the effect of corneal thickness on the diagnosis of glaucoma, and the influence of excimer laser refractive surgery on intraocular pressure (IOP) measurement with Goldmann applanation tonometry. In general, normals and primary open-angle glaucoma patients have a similar distribution of corneal thickness; however, there is a wide variation, ranging from 427-716 μm. Normal-tension glaucoma patients have a tendency towards thinner corneas than normals; however, there is an overlap of thickness measurements of more than two-thirds in 95% of patients. There is a trend for ocular hypertensives to have thicker corneas than normals, but again there is an overlap of about one-third in 95% of patients. The general trend after excimer laser refractive surgery is for a decrease in IOP, with a mean fall in IOP measured of 0.63 mmHg per diopter correction. There is, however, a large scatter of values with some patients having the same or lower IOP post-laser, but with others measuring higher pressures. Corneal thickness can influence IOP measurement by goldmann applanation tonometry; however, the magnitude of the effect is subject to much individual variation.
G.A. Lee, MD, city Eye Centre, level 10, 135 Wickham Terrace, Brisbane, QLD 4000, Australia. mdglee@hotmail.com
Classification:
2.2 Cornea (Part of: 2 Anatomical structures in glaucoma)
6.1 Intraocular pressure measurement; factors affecting IOP (Part of: 6 Clinical examination methods)
