Central corneal thickness in the European Glaucoma Prevention Study.
OBJECTIVE
To measure central corneal thickness (CCT) within the participants of the European Glaucoma Prevention Study (EGPS). This study was designed to test if lowering intraocular pressure (IOP) by means of dorzolamide is able to prevent or delay conversion from ocular hypertension to glaucoma.


METHODS
Randomized, double-masked, controlled, observational clinical trial.


METHODS
Eight hundred fifty-four of 1077 ocular hypertensive participants within the EGPS were investigated. Four hundred twenty-nine patients were treated with dorzolamide and 425 patients received placebo.


METHODS
Treatment with dorzolamide or placebo (the vehicle of dorzolamide) in 1 or both eyes.


METHODS
Central corneal thickness as measured by ultrasound pachymetry (DGH-500 Pachette; DGH Technologies, Exton, PA). The CCT measurements were obtained in the morning before measuring IOP. Five measurements were taken from each eye of each patient within 5 minutes of application of anesthetic eye drops.


RESULTS
Mean CCT was 572.6+/-37.4 microm (range, 458.5-695.6 microm). The CCT was higher in younger patients, male patients, and diabetic patients. Mean CCTs for the 429 patients receiving dorzolamide were 574.2+/-38.48 microm (range, 458.5-695.6 microm) and 571.0+/-36.21 microm (469.7-690.1 microm) for the 425 patients receiving placebo (P = 0.205). Central corneal thickness did not correlate with refraction, baseline IOP, or systemic hypertension.


CONCLUSIONS
Central corneal thickness measurements within the EGPS were greater than those reported in other studies of normal eyes without ocular hypertension. Larger CCT measurements correlated with male gender, younger age, and diabetes.
Department of Ophthalmology, University-Hospital Mainz, Langenbeckstr. 1, D-55131 Mainz, Germany. pfeiffer@augen.klinik.uni-mainz.de
Pfeiffer
Norbert
N
Torri
Valter
V
Miglior
Stefano
S
Zeyen
Thierry
T
Adamsons
Ingrid
I
Cunha-Vaz
Jose
J
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D003315:Cornea / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D048909:Diabetes Complications; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D005901:Glaucoma / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D007429:Intraocular Pressure / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009798:Ocular Hypertension / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D012737:Sex Factors; D013449:Sulfonamides / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013876:Thiophenes / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014463:Ultrasonography
D013449:Sulfonamides; D013876:Thiophenes; C062765:dorzolamide