title: Impact of oral contraceptive pills on central corneal thickness in young women.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Hormonal changes during oral contraceptive pill (OCP) use may affect central corneal thickness (CCT) values. We aimed to evaluate the impact of OCP use on CCT values in healthy young women.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty women subjects who use OCP for contraception (Group 1) and forty control subjects (Group 2) who do not use OCP were included in this prospective study. None of the patients had any history of systemic or ocular diseases. The CCT values measured by ultrasonic pachymeter (Nidek US-4000 Echoscan, Japan) and the intraocular pressure (IOP) values were measured by noncontact tonometer (Reichert 7 CR Corneal Response Technology, USA) at the time of admission to our clinic. The demographic findings and body mass index (BMI) scores of participants were also recorded.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean ages were 32.8 ± 5.6 for OCP + patients (Group 1) and 31.3 ± 6.9 for OCP-patients (Group 2) (P= 0.28). The mean CCT values were significantly higher in Group 1 when compared to that of the Group 2 (540.9 ± 30.4 μm and 519.6 ± 35.6 μm, respectively) (P= 0.003). The mean IOP value was 14.3 ± 2.5 mmHg in Group 1 and 14.4 ± 2.7 mmHg in Group 2 (P= 0.96). The mean BMI scores were 24.4 ± 5.8 kg/m2in Group 1 and 24.6 ± 3.5 kg/m2in Group 2 (P= 0.83).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings revealed that CCT values were significantly higher in patients with OCP use. Ophthalmologists should be aware of potential elevated CCT levels in these patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Dr. Sami Ulus Maternity and Children's Health and Diseases Training and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Bengi Ece
authors.initials: BE
authors.lastname: Kurtul
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Medicine, Dr. Sami Ulus Maternity and Children's Health and Diseases Training and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Besime
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Inal
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Dr. Sami Ulus Maternity and Children's Health and Diseases Training and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Pinar Altiaylik
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Ozer
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Dr. Sami Ulus Maternity and Children's Health and Diseases Training and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Emrah Utku
authors.initials: EU
authors.lastname: Kabatas
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003277:Contraceptives, Oral, Combined / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D003315:Cornea / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology / Q000502:physiology*; D063171:Corneal Pachymetry / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007429:Intraocular Pressure / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014065:Tonometry, Ocular / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D003277:Contraceptives, Oral, Combined
keywords: Central corneal thickness; oral contraceptive pills; young women