[Central and peripheral corneal pachymetry--standard evaluation with the Pentacam system]

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Anatomical studies
• Medical imaging

Background:

• Corneal thickness is crucial for refractive surgery, intraocular pressure (IOP) interpretation, and diagnosing corneal diseases.
• Accurate corneal pachymetry is essential for understanding corneal anatomy and guiding clinical decisions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To establish normative values for corneal thickness using the Pentacam system.
• To investigate the influence of anthropometric factors (body size, BMI, weight, gender) and refractive error on central and peripheral corneal thickness.

Main Methods:

• Utilized the Pentacam Scheimpflug imaging system for non-contact corneal measurements.
• Measured central corneal thickness (CCT) and peripheral corneal thickness (PCT) at specific locations in 182 healthy Caucasian subjects.
• Analyzed correlations between corneal thickness and various biometric and refractive parameters using non-parametric statistical tests.

Main Results:

• Mean CCT was 534 ± 36 micrometers, with no significant difference between right and left eyes or between genders.
• No statistically significant correlation was found between CCT and age, height, BMI, or refraction.
• A significant positive correlation was observed between CCT and body weight.
• PCT was lowest temporally and inferiorly, and highest nasally and superiorly.
• PCT showed a significant negative correlation with age in the superior and nasal regions.

Conclusions:

• The Pentacam system provides reliable, non-contact corneal thickness measurements.
• Central corneal thickness appears to be positively correlated with body weight.
• Peripheral corneal thickness exhibits anatomical variations, being thinner in the temporal and inferior quadrants.
• Peripheral corneal thickness in the nasal and superior quadrants may decrease with advancing age.