Central corneal thickness in a Puerto Rican population

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Corneal Research
• Population Health

Background:

• Central corneal thickness (CCT) is a critical ocular biometric.
• Variations in CCT exist across different ethnic and geographic populations.
• Understanding CCT in diverse populations is essential for accurate ophthalmic assessments.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the mean central corneal thickness (CCT) in a Puerto Rican cohort.
• To compare Puerto Rican CCT with published data from US white, Hispanic, and African American populations.

Main Methods:

• A survey and eye examination were conducted on 588 volunteers in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
• Intraocular pressure and central corneal thickness were measured.
• Data were analyzed to compare CCT across different ethnic groups.

Main Results:

• The mean CCT for Puerto Rican participants was 541+/-33 micrometers.
• Puerto Rican CCT was significantly thinner than that of US white (P<0.002) and Hispanic (P<0.03) populations.
• Puerto Rican CCT was significantly thicker than that of US African American populations (P<0.05).

Conclusions:

• The mean central corneal thickness in Puerto Ricans differs from that in various US ethnic groups.
• Puerto Rican CCT is thinner compared to white and Hispanic populations but thicker than African Americans in the US.
• No significant CCT differences were found among ethnic subgroups within Puerto Rico.