Corneal thickness and intraocular pressure in the Barbados eye studies.
OBJECTIVE
To describe the distribution of central corneal thickness (CCT) and evaluate its relationship to intraocular pressure (IOP) in the predominantly black population of the Barbados Eye Studies (BES).


METHODS
Participants received a standardized examination, including pachymetry, applanation tonometry, and a comprehensive ophthalmologic evaluation. Analyses were based on data from all eyes, and generalized estimating equation methods were applied to account for the correlation between eyes.


RESULTS
Among the 1142 consecutive participants with pachymetry measurements, the mean age was 64.3 years, and 58% were women. Black participants tended to have thinner corneas (mean thickness, 529.8 microm) than mixed (black and white) (537.8 microm) and white participants (545.2 microm), respectively. Among black participants, increasing values of CCT were significantly related to younger age (P<.001), diabetes history (P =.03), and refractive error (P =.03); a marginally significant relationship (with thinner corneas) was found with a clinical diagnosis of glaucoma (P =.07). Intraocular pressure was not associated with CCT in this population.


CONCLUSIONS
Although other studies have reported a positive correlation between CCT and IOP, such a relationship was not substantiated in the black BES population. Black participants tended to have thinner corneas than white participants, whereas younger individuals, as well as those with a history of diabetes and more positive refractive errors, had thicker corneas.
Nemesure
Barbara
B
Department of Preventive Medicine, University Medical Center, L3 HSC Room 086, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794-0836, USA.
Wu
Suh-Yuh
SY
Hennis
Anselm
A
Leske
M Cristina
MC
D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001460:Barbados / Q000453:epidemiology; D044383:Black People; D003315:Cornea / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007429:Intraocular Pressure; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017678:Sex Distribution; D044465:White People