Central corneal thickness in southern Egypt.

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Corneal Physiology
• Public Health

Background:

• Central corneal thickness (CCT) is a critical ocular biometric parameter.
• Understanding ethnic variations in CCT is essential for accurate ophthalmic assessments.
• Previous studies have shown diverse CCT values across different global populations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the mean central corneal thickness (CCT) in a southern Egyptian cohort.
• To analyze CCT variations based on age and gender within this population.
• To compare Egyptian CCT measurements with those of other ethnic groups globally.

Main Methods:

• A prospective, observational study involving 4,368 non-glaucomatous subjects (aged 16-70 years).
• Ultrasonic pachymetry was used for precise CCT measurements.
• Comprehensive ophthalmic examinations including refraction, keratometry, slit-lamp, and IOP measurements were performed.

Main Results:

• The average CCT in the southern Egyptian population was 530.06 ± 38.03 μm.
• No significant CCT differences were observed among emmetropes, myopes, and hyperopes.
• Statistically significant variations in CCT were found across different age groups and genders.
• A strong positive correlation was noted between CCT and intraocular pressure (IOP).
• Egyptian CCT was lower than Caucasian, Hispanic, and Japanese populations, but similar to African and African American populations.

Conclusions:

• Mean CCT in southern Egyptians is influenced by age and gender.
• The study provides valuable normative CCT data for the Egyptian population.
• Findings highlight the importance of considering ethnicity when interpreting CCT and IOP measurements.