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Central corneal thickness in children and adolescents with pediatric glaucoma and eye disorders at risk of developing

Juan P Lopez1, Sharon F Freedman, Kelly Muir

  • 1Departments of Ophthalmology and Vision Sciences, The Hospital for Sick Children, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Journal of Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus
|May 29, 2010
PubMed

Insights

Central corneal thickness (CCT) is significantly higher in children with glaucoma and those at risk. Caution is advised when using standard formulas for intraocular pressure correction in pediatric glaucoma patients.

Area of Science:

  • Ophthalmology
  • Pediatric Ophthalmology
  • Glaucoma Research

Background:

  • Pediatric glaucoma presents unique challenges in diagnosis and management.
  • Central corneal thickness (CCT) is a crucial factor in intraocular pressure (IOP) assessment.
  • Understanding CCT variations in pediatric glaucoma is vital for accurate IOP measurement.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate central corneal thickness (CCT) in children diagnosed with glaucoma.
  • To assess CCT in children at risk for glaucoma due to conditions like aphakia, aniridia, or uveitis.
  • To compare CCT values between pediatric glaucoma patients, at-risk children, and normal children.

Main Methods:

  • Ultrasound pachymetry was used to measure CCT in 139 children with glaucoma, 66 at risk, and 66 controls.
  • Intraocular pressure (IOP) was measured using applanation tonometry.
  • Correlation analysis examined associations between CCT and ocular factors like spherical equivalent and cup-to-disc ratio.

Main Results:

  • Children with glaucoma (mean CCT: 0.598 mm) and those at risk (mean CCT: 0.604 mm) exhibited significantly higher CCT than normal children (mean CCT: 0.558 mm).
  • Eyes with aphakia and aniridia showed the thickest CCT, while anterior segment dysgenesis and uveitis had the thinnest.
  • Positive correlations were found between CCT and spherical equivalent, and between CCT and intraocular surgery in at-risk eyes.

Conclusions:

  • This study represents the largest series on CCT in pediatric glaucoma and related disorders.
  • Elevated CCT in pediatric glaucoma patients necessitates caution when applying standard IOP-to-CCT correction formulas.
  • Accurate IOP assessment in children with glaucoma requires consideration of their unique CCT profiles.
Abstract

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