Distribution of central corneal thickness and its association with ocular parameters in a large central European cohort: the Gutenberg health study.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the distribution of central corneal thickness (CCT) in a large German cohort and to analyse its relationship with intraocular pressure and further ocular factors.


METHODS
Population-based, prospective, cohort study.


METHODS
The Gutenberg Health Study (GHS) cohort included 4,698 eligible enrollees of 5,000 subjects (age range 35-74 years) who participated in the survey from 2007 to 2008. All participants underwent an ophthalmological examination including slitlamp biomicroscopy, intraocular pressure measurement, central corneal thickness measurement, fundus examination, and were given a questionnaire regarding glaucoma history. Furthermore, all subjects underwent fundus photography and visual field testing using frequency doubling perimetry.


RESULTS
Mean CCT was 557.3 ± 34.3 µm (male) and 551.6±35.2 µm in female subjects (Mean CCT from right and left eyes). Younger male participants (35-44 years) presented slightly thicker CCT than those older. We noted a significant CCT difference of 4 µm between right and left eyes, but a high correlation between eyes (Wilcoxon test for related samples: p<0.0001). Univariable linear regression stratified by gender showed that IOP was correlated with CCT (p<0.0001). A 10 µm increase in CCT led to an increase in IOP between 0.35-0.38 mm Hg, depending on the eye and gender. Multivariable linear regression analysis revealed correlations between gender, spherical equivalent (right eyes), and CCT (p<.0001 and p=0.03, respectively).


CONCLUSIONS
We observed positive correlations between CCT and IOP and gender. CCT was not correlated with age, contact lens wear, positive family history for glaucoma, lens status, or iris colour.
University Medical Centre, Department of Ophthalmology, Mainz, Germany. ehoffman@uni-mainz.de
Esther M
EM
Hoffmann
Julia
J
Lamparter
Alireza
A
Mirshahi
Heike
H
Elflein
René
R
Hoehn
Christian
C
Wolfram
Katrin
K
Lorenz
Max
M
Adler
Philipp S
PS
Wild
Andreas
A
Schulz
Barbara
B
Mathes
Maria
M
Blettner
Norbert
N
Pfeiffer
D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003315:Cornea / Q000166:cytology* / Q000473:pathology; D063171:Corneal Pachymetry / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005128:Eye Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D006262:Health; D006801:Humans; D007429:Intraocular Pressure; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D017678:Sex Distribution