Longitudinal evaluation of central corneal thickness in congenital glaucoma.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the central corneal thickness in primary congenital glaucoma before and after surgical treatment and compare it with a normal population.


METHODS
We conducted a longitudinal analysis of primary congenital glaucoma patients, in whom we measured central corneal thickness before and after treatment (Group 1). We compared our results with a normal population (Group 2), who underwent ophthalmological examination under anesthesia for other reasons.


RESULTS
Mean age (months) in Group 1 (N=23) and Group 2 (N=40) at the time of the first exam was 5.5 and 9.2 (P=0.004), respectively. Mean central corneal thickness (microns) in Group 1 was: 663 before treatment and 557 after treatment (P<0.001). In Group 2, mean central corneal thickness (microns) was 551. Comparisons show statistical difference between mean values before and after treatment (P<0.001), but not between post-treatment CCT mean values in Group 1 and mean CCT values in Group 2 (P=0.627).


CONCLUSIONS
In primary congenital glaucoma, central corneal thickness values show unique peculiarities. They are higher than normal before treatment (thicker corneas), due to corneal edema caused by elevated intraocular pressure. After surgical treatment, central corneal thickness measurements decrease toward the mean values for the normal population.
Paletta Guedes Ophthalmological Center, Juiz de Fora, MG, Brazil; Santa Casa de Misericórdia Hospital, Juiz de Fora, MG, Brazil; Federal University of Juiz de Fora, Juiz de Fora, MG, Brazil. Electronic address: palettaguedes@yahoo.com.
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Paletta Guedes
Paletta Guedes Ophthalmological Center, Juiz de Fora, MG, Brazil; Santa Casa de Misericórdia Hospital, Juiz de Fora, MG, Brazil.
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Pena
Paletta Guedes Ophthalmological Center, Juiz de Fora, MG, Brazil; Santa Casa de Misericórdia Hospital, Juiz de Fora, MG, Brazil.
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Paletta Guedes
Federal University of Juiz de Fora, Juiz de Fora, MG, Brazil.
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Chaoubah
D002675:Child, Preschool; D003315:Cornea / Q000473:pathology*; D063171:Corneal Pachymetry; D005901:Glaucoma / Q000151:congenital* / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007429:Intraocular Pressure; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D012189:Retrospective Studies
Central corneal thickness; Chirurgie du glaucome; Glaucoma surgery; Glaucome congénital primitif; Intraocular pressure; Pachymetry; Pachymétrie; Pression intraoculaire; Primary congenital glaucoma; Épaisseur centrale de la cornée