title: Central corneal thickness in patients with atopic keratoconjunctivitis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of this study was to evaluate central corneal thickness in patients with atopic keratoconjunctivitis.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study was conducted in the Atatürk University School of Medicine between April 2011 and June 2013. The study group included 60 eyes of 30 patients with atopic keratoconjunctivitis. Sixty eyes of 30 healthy individuals without any ophthalmic or systemic pathology were used as a control group. The central corneal thickness was measured with ultrasonic pachymetry.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In each group, all subjects included in the study had a best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) of 20/25 or better. In the study group past medical histories revealed eczema in 19 patients, asthma in 16, and atopic dermatitis in 15. During clinical examination cicatricial conjunctivitis was noted in 5 patients, giant papillae in 4, symblepharon in 2, and entropion in 2. The mean central corneal thickness was 523.45±18.03 µm in the study group (mean age: 37.05±5.7 years) and 540.30±38.91 µm in the control group (mean age: 36.55±7.1 years), and the difference was statistically significant (p<0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Evaluation of corneal thickness is important in situations such as corneal refractive surgery and contact lens use, and is an essential parameter in a wide range of ocular disorders, including glaucoma and keratoconus. Therefore, ophthalmologists should be aware of the low central corneal thickness in patients with atopic keratoconjunctivitis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Erbaa Government Hospital, Tokat, Turkey.
authors.forename: Osman
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Ondas
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Medical Faculty of Ataturk University, Erzurum, Turkey.
authors.forename: Sadullah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Keles
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003233:Conjunctivitis, Allergic / Q000473:pathology*; D063171:Corneal Pachymetry; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007637:Keratoconjunctivitis / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male