title: Analysis of the horizontal corneal diameter, central corneal thickness, and axial length in premature infants.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the horizontal corneal diameter, central corneal thickness, and axial length in premature infants.
  
  
  METHODS
  Infants with a birth weight of less than 2,500 g or with a gestation period of less than 36 weeks were included in the study. Infants with retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) were allocated to Group 1 (n=138), while those without ROP were allocated to Group 2 (n=236). All infants underwent a complete ophthalmologic examination, including corneal diameter measurements, pachymetry, biometry, and fundoscopy. Between-group comparisons of horizontal corneal diameter, central corneal thickness, and axial lengths were performed. Independent sample t-tests were used for statistical analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Data was obtained from 374 eyes of 187 infants (102 female, 85 male). The mean gestational age at birth was 30.7 ± 2.7 weeks (range 25-36 weeks), the mean birth weight was 1,514 ± 533.3 g (range 750-1,970 g), and the mean postmenstrual age at examination was 40.0 ± 4.8 weeks. The mean gestational age and the mean birth weight of Group 1 were statistically lower than Group 2 (p<0.05). There were no significant differences in horizontal corneal diameter, central corneal thickness, and axial length between the two groups (p>0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The presence of ROP in premature infants does not alter the horizontal corneal diameter, central corneal thickness, or axial length.
authors.affiliation: Ophthalmology Department, Zekai Tahir Burak Women's Health Education and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ozdemir
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Ozdemir
authors.affiliation: Ophthalmology Department, Zekai Tahir Burak Women's Health Education and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Zuhal Özen
authors.initials: ZÖ
authors.lastname: Tunay
authors.affiliation: Ophthalmology Department, Etlik Zubeyde Hanım Maternity and Women's Health Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ikbal Seza
authors.initials: IS
authors.lastname: Petriçli
authors.affiliation: Ophthalmology Department, Zekai Tahir Burak Women's Health Education and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Damla Ergintürk
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Acar
authors.affiliation: Ophthalmology Department, Kastamonu Faculty of Medicine, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ugur
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Acar
authors.affiliation: Ophthalmology Department, Antalya Education and Research Hospital, Antalya, Turkey.
authors.forename: Muhammet Kazim
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Erol
mesh_terms: D001724:Birth Weight; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003315:Cornea / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D008297:Male; D012178:Retinopathy of Prematurity / Q000473:pathology