Corneal parameters, ocular biometers, and retinal and choroidal thickness in acromegaly patients

To compare ocular findings of acromegaly patients with healthy individuals and investigate the relation of serum levels of insulin-like growth factor (IGF-1) along with growth hormone (GH) and pituitary tumor (adenoma) dimensions (TD) with specific ocular parameters.

The ocular parameters of acromegaly patients (n = 38) were compared with those of healthy subjects (n = 36). These parameters were intraocular pressure, keratometric (K1-K2) values, central corneal thickness (CCT), total axial length along with anterior chamber-lens-vitreous length, retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness, central foveal thickness (CFT), choroidal thickness (CT), ganglion cell layer thickness (GCLT), and inner plexiform layer thickness (IPLT). Also investigated was whether there was a correlation between disease duration, TD, GH, IGF-I, CCT, RNFL, CFT, GCLT, IPLT, and CT.

The lens length of the acromegaly group was increased (p = 0.014). GH and IGF-1 levels were positively correlated with CT and CCT, respectively (p = 0.041, r = 0.343) (p = 0.03, r = 0.347). Analysis of TD also found a highly negative correlation with the mean RNFL thickness of the acromegaly patients (p < 0.01, r = -0.603). The mean value of the inner parts of GCLT and IPLT was negatively correlated with TD (p = 0.041, r = -0.343 and p = 0.025, r = -0.379, respectively).

Serum IGF-1 and GH levels might be determinant factors in CCT and CT, respectively. The pituitary adenoma size increasing may be prone to lead RNFL, ganglion cell layer, inner plexiform layer thinning. Increased lens thickness was found in the acromegaly group.