Corneal thickness in an ophthalmologically normal Japanese population.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the distribution of central corneal thickness (CCT) and factors correlating with CCT in a large-scale population of ophthalmologically normal Japanese persons.


METHODS
Cross-sectional study.


METHODS
Participants (n = 7313; 2848 men and 4465 women) were selected as an ophthalmologically normal Japanese sample using the following exclusion criteria: abnormal results suggestive of any eye diseases revealed on slit-lamp examination, fundus photography, or visual field test using frequency doubling technology; corrected visual acuity worse than 0.7; and contact lens wear within 1 week. All study participants were identified from The Eye Disease Screening Service in Tajimi city during the period from September, 2000, through October, 2001.


METHODS
The CCT was measured by SP-2000P specular microscopy (Topcon, Tokyo, Japan). Age, gender, body mass index, systolic blood pressure, laterality, refraction, corneal radius, and intraocular pressure (IOP) data were collected from the records.


METHODS
The CCT value and its correlating factors.


RESULTS
Average CCT in this ophthalmologically normal Japanese population was 517.5+/-29.8 microm (mean+/-standard deviation; n = 7313) and was greater in men (521.5+/-30.3 microm) than in women (514.4+/-29.0 microm). The CCT positively correlated with IOP and corneal radius and negatively correlated with refraction, although the correlation was weak. Intraocular pressure measured with a Goldmann applanation tonometer positively correlated with CCT, and the correction was not affected by age (corrected IOP = IOP reading -0.012 [CCT (microm) - 520]).


CONCLUSIONS
Using optical pachymetry, CCT in normal Japanese persons was defined as 517.5+/-29.8 microm. Men had greater CCT measurements than women. The CCT measurements positively correlated with IOP and corneal radius and negatively correlated with age and refraction in men. Intraocular pressure positively correlated with CCT, regardless of age.
Suzuki
Shigenobu
S
Division of Ophthalmology, National Cancer Center Hospital, Tokyo, Japan.
Suzuki
Yasuyuki
Y
Iwase
Aiko
A
Araie
Makoto
M
D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001837:Body Weights and Measures; D003315:Cornea / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003941:Diagnostic Techniques, Ophthalmological; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007429:Intraocular Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D007564:Japan; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012016:Reference Values; D017678:Sex Distribution