Corneal thickness differences between sexes after oxybuprocaine eye drops
Pablo Fernandez-Garcia1, Alejandro Cerviño, Laura Quiles-Guiñau
1*MSc †PhD ‡MD, PhD §OD, MSc Ocular Anatomy Unit, Department of Anatomy and Human Embryology, Faculty of Medicine (PF-G, LQ-G, JAS-G), and Optometry Research Group, Department of Optics (AC, CA-D, SG-L), University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain; and Pharmacology Unit, University Clinic Hospital, Valencia, Spain (PF-G).
Summary
Oxybuprocaine anesthetic eye drops increased corneal thickness in females but not males. This study analyzed corneal thickness changes after using these drops in both sexes.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Corneal Physiology
Background:
- Corneal thickness (CT) is a critical parameter in ophthalmic assessments.
- Anesthetic eye drops are commonly used in eye examinations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effect of oxybuprocaine 0.4% anesthetic eye drops on corneal thickness.
- To compare these effects between female and male subjects.
Main Methods:
- Corneal thickness was measured using scanning-slit corneal topography.
- Measurements were taken before and 3 minutes after oxybuprocaine 0.4% instillation.
- The study included 30 female and 28 male subjects.
Main Results:
- No significant changes in corneal thickness were observed in male subjects across all measured locations.
- Female subjects showed statistically significant increases in corneal thickness at inferior and nasal sites after anesthetic instillation.
- The range of CT differences varied between sexes and corneal locations.
Conclusions:
- Oxybuprocaine 0.4% anesthetic eye drops can induce significant corneal thickness increases in female subjects.
- These effects were not observed in male subjects, suggesting a potential sex-based difference in corneal response to topical anesthetics.
