Relationship between central corneal thickness and some ocular and demographic parameters: A cross-sectional study

Objective: To determine the relationship between central corneal thickness (CCT) and corneal curvature, intraocular pressure, axial length, use of topical glaucoma medications, refractive status, age, race, and gender. Method: This descriptive cross-sectional study involved 270 new and follow-up patients who were at least 18 years old and had no corneal pathology on slit lamp ocular examination. Non-probability convenient sampling technique was used. Biodata of participants were taken after which visual acuity, slit-lamp examination, auto-refraction, keratometry, subjective refraction, pachymetry (OCT and ultrasound), axial length, tonometry, and dilated fundoscopy were done. Data was analysed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences 26.0. Pearson’s correlation was used to determine the association between pachymetry and the parameters. Analyses were considered statistically significant when the p-value was less than 0.05. Results: The mean age of participants was 37.35 ± 17.28 years, the male-to-female ratio was 1:2.1. The mean ultrasound CCT was 524.51 ± 37.65 μm, while the mean OCT CCT was 508.97 ± 35.09 μm. CCT showed a negative correlation with age (p<0.05), and a positive correlation with corneal curvature (p<0.05) and axial length (p<0.05). Participants on topical prostaglandin analogues and combination therapy had lower CCT compared to those on alpha-2 agonists, beta-blockers, and those who were not on any glaucoma medication. No correlation was found between gender, IOP, refractive status, and CCT. Conclusion: Age, axial length, corneal curvature, use of topical prostaglandin analogues, and combination therapy all affect CCT.