The relationship between central corneal thickness and optic disc size in patients with primary open-angle glaucoma in a hospital-based population

Abstract

. Purpose: To investigate the relationship between central corneal thickness (CCT) and optic disc size in patients with primary open‐angle glaucoma (POAG) in a hospital‐based population. Methods: Data for the right eyes of 1435 White patients with POAG were included in a retrospective hospital‐based study. All eyes underwent optic nerve head imaging using Heidelberg Retina Tomograph II (HRT II; Heidelberg Engineering, Heidelberg, Germany) and CCT measurement by ultrasound corneal pachymetry. Eyes with prior intraocular or corneal surgery were excluded. Low‐quality HRT II images were also excluded. The impact of age, gender, CCT, intraocular pressure, cylindrical and spherical refractive error as independent factors on optic disc size was investigated in a multiple linear regression analysis. Results: The data for 1104 right eyes qualified for participation in the study. The median age of these patients was 65 years. The median CCT was 547 μm (25th–75th percentile 522–575 μm). The median optic disc size was 2.21 mm2 (25th–75th percentile 1.89–2.60 mm2). Multiple linear regression analysis revealed that age (p = 0.001), CCT (p = 0.001) and spherical equivalent (p = 0.049) were correlated to disc size according to the following formula: disc area = −0.004 × age − 0.001 × CCT − 0.014 × spherical equivalent +3.290. R2 of the whole model was 0.021. Univariate regression analysis between age and disc area provided R2 = 0.008 with p = 0.002. Univariate regression analysis between disc area and CCT provided R2 = 0.005 with p = 0.02. Conclusion: In this retrospective hospital‐based study we could not detect a clinically relevant correlation between optic disc size and CCT. The correlation between CCT and disc size and between age and disc size were statistically significant, but the R2 values were very low. The results of the study are biased because of its hospital‐based design, so the results of the study need to be confirmed in a large population‐based study.

The thick and thin of the central corneal thickness in glaucoma

“…However, in other population-based studies there was no significant relationship with any optic disc parameter [15,59]. Some hospital-based studies have found CCT associated with optic disc area [60][61][62], nasal rim area [63], as well as no significant correlation of CCT and disc size [62].…”

Cornea and Glaucoma

“…Several studies have assessed the relationship between the CCT and objectively measured optic disc parameters, but they provide inconsistent results. Using the confocal scanning laser ophthalmoscopy (Heidelberg Retina Tomograph, Heidelberg Engineering, Heidelberg, Germany), several hospital-based studies of patients with glaucoma have suggested that the CCT is correlated with the optic disc area and nasal rim volume [57], while another population-based study [58] did not identify these correlations. In another population-based survey [59], no significant relationship was found between the CCT and ONH parameters obtained with retinal tomography.…”

Genetic African Ancestry Is Associated With Central Corneal Thickness and Intraocular Pressure in Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma

“…[57][58][59][60][61] In particular, a correlation between thinner CCT and larger optic discs seems to be present in POAG patients. 62,63 Larger optic disc diameters may be associated with increased vulnerability to pressure-induced deformation. Therefore, eyes with thinner corneas are more susceptible to glaucomatous damage in comparison with those having thicker corneas.…”