Evaluating the change in central corneal thickness in neonates (term and preterm) in Indian population and the factors affecting it.
OBJECTIVE
Central corneal thickness (CCT) of term and preterm infants in Indian population is not known. We did a prospective noninterventional study to measure the CCT in term and preterm infants.


METHODS
An ultrasonic pachymeter was used. The data regarding the date of birth, expected date of delivery, birth weight were recorded. The preterm and the term infants were followed up at 8 weeks, 20 weeks and at 1-year.


RESULTS
A total of 85 (170 eyes) children were included in the study. The mean age was 264.6 ± 21.8 days postconception. The mean birth weight and CCT were 1834.4 ± 512.1 g and 595.8 ± 72.4 μ respectively. A comparison of CCT on the basis postgestational age showed a mean thickness of 620.7 ± 88.8 and 574.4 ± 78.3 μ in the <260 days and >260 days age groups respectively. The difference was statistically significant (Student's test, P = 0.002). The CCT of preterm infants (<260 days) decreased from a mean value of 620.7 ± 88.8 μ to 534.1 ± 57.6 μ at the end of 1-year.


CONCLUSIONS
We present the data of CCT in term and preterm infants in Indian population. We believe that the premature babies have slightly thicker corneas than mature term babies.
Pediatric Ophthalmology, Baroda Children Eye Care and Squint Clinic, Vadodara, Gujarat, India.
Jitendra
J
Jethani
Kalpit
K
Shah
Monika
M
Jethani
D001724:Birth Weight / Q000502:physiology*; D003315:Cornea / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D007429:Intraocular Pressure / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies