[Difference and distance between the central and thinnest points of the cornea: impact of refractive state, age and ocular side].
BACKGROUND
The aim of the study was to quantify the difference in corneal thickness between the central and thinnest points (∆PachyZ-PachyD), the distance between the center of the cornea and its thinnest point (vector length PachyD) and to explore the impact of refractive state, age and ocular side.


METHODS
This was a multicenter, retrospective, cross-sectional study and medical records of 16,872 eyes were reviewed. The Orbscan® (Bausch and Lomb) procedure was used for pachymetry and keratometry.


RESULTS
The results showed that ∆PachyZ-PachyD and vector length PachyD were higher in hyperopic eyes (∆PachyZ-PachyD: 11.99 ± 12.08 µm, vector length PachyD: 0.85 ± 0.44 mm) compared to myopic eyes (∆PachyZ-PachyD: 9.2 ± 7.86 µm, vector length PachyD: 0.7 ± 0.37 mm; p < 0.001). Refractive state, age and ocular side demonstrated an independent, statistically significant impact on ∆PachyZ-PachyD and vector length PachyD.


CONCLUSIONS
As a result of the significant impact of refractive state, age and ocular side on ∆PachyZ-PachyD and vector length PachyD, these variables should be considered in a normative data collection.
Klinik und Poliklinik für Augenheilkunde, Universitätsklinikum Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistr. 52, 20246, Hamburg, Deutschland, j.steinberg@uke.uni-hamburg.de.
J
J
Steinberg
C
C
Kohl
T
T
Katz
G
G
Richard
S J
SJ
Linke
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000473:pathology*; D003315:Cornea / Q000473:pathology*; D063171:Corneal Pachymetry / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D019781:Corneal Topography / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009929:Organ Size; D012030:Refractive Errors / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D055815:Young Adult