title: Comparison of pre-operative central corneal thickness in pediatric cataract cases versus normal.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the pre-operative central corneal thickness (CCT) in paediatric cataract patients with reference to normal control group.
  
  
  METHODS
  A case control study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Paediatric Ophthalmology Clinic of Al-Shifa Trust Eye Hospital (ASTEH), Rawalpindi, from November 2009 to May 2010.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study included 116 subjects with equal number of cases and controls. Demographic profile of all the subjects was noted followed by history and detailed ophthalmic examination. CCT was measured using an ultrasonic pachymeter (model Pac Scan 300). The mean of three measurements from the central cornea were recorded in microns. RESULTS were analyzed using SPSS version 17.0.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean CCT values of the cases was 566.83 ± 37.646 microns while the control group had a mean CCT of 535.81 ± 24.466 microns. Difference between the CCT values of the two groups was highly significant (p < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Eyes with congenital cataracts have greater CCT values as compared to normal paediatric population. This factor must be kept in mind while interpreting intra-ocular pressure in such patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Pakistan Institute of Ophthalmology, Al-Shifa Trust Eye Hospital, Rawalpindi.
authors.forename: Shama
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Pakistan Institute of Ophthalmology, Al-Shifa Trust Eye Hospital, Rawalpindi.
authors.forename: Mahmood
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ali
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Pakistan Institute of Ophthalmology, Al-Shifa Trust Eye Hospital, Rawalpindi.
authors.forename: Naima
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Zaheer
mesh_terms: D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002386:Cataract; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003315:Cornea / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D003941:Diagnostic Techniques, Ophthalmological; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007429:Intraocular Pressure; D008297:Male; D057234:Preoperative Period; D014065:Tonometry, Ocular