Corneal Thickness of Glaucoma Patients in Onitsha, Southeast Nigeria

Background: The assessment of the Central Cornea Thickness (CCT) is crucial in the decision-making process in the management of glaucoma. Objectives: The objectives of this study were to determine the mean CCT of glaucoma patients of Igbo descent, and to evaluate any relationship of CCT and the patients’ demographics. Materials and Method: This was a cross-sectional study done at a private eye specialist clinic in Onitsha, southeastern Nigeria. Participants were eligible glaucoma patients of Igbo ethnicity. The corneal thickness of each eye was measured using ultrasound pachymeter. The mean CCT was calculated and its relationship with gender and age was studied. Results: A total of 155 eyes of 79 participants were studied; males constituted 57%. The mean age of the participants was 53.69±16.29years. The mean CCT for all eyes studied was 529.51±35.77µm (95% confidence interval (CI): 523.83 – 535.19µm), while the right and left eyes had mean CCT of 528.99 ±36.16µm (95% CI: 520.84 – 537.14µm) and 530.04 ±35.61µm (95% CI: 521.96 – 538.12µm) respectively. There was no significant difference in mean CCT with increasing age (P = 0.38). The mean CCT were thicker in males for both the right and left eyes, however, these differences were not statistically significant (P = 0.74, P = 0.86 respectively). Conclusion: CCT values of glaucoma patients of Igbo ethnicity is similar to that of the non-glaucoma individuals. There is no significant relationship between age and CCT in both gender.