Association between central corneal thickness and ocular dominance in a South Indian population

Abstract

Aims: The aim of the study is to investigate the association between ocular dominance and central corneal thickness (CCT) among normal eyes. Settings and Design: A cross-sectional study was conducted in the outpatient department of a tertiary care center in Southern India. Subjects and Methods: Participants of the study included 87 outpatients and volunteers with bilateral nonpathological eyes. This study was performed according to the tenets of the Declaration of Helsinki. To determine the dominant eye, hole-in-card test was utilized. Masked of the ocular dominance result, an independent observer measured CCT at the visual axis with specular microscopy (CEM-530, Nidek, Canada) by noncontact modality. Three readings were obtained from each eye. The right eye was first examined. Average of the three CCT readings was used for analysis. Statistical Analysis Used: Statistical methods included paired t-test (for comparison of eyes within patient) and Chi-square test to assess the association between ocular dominance and CCT. A P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: The 87 volunteers studied were aged 37.6 ± 14.8 years and 62.1% were female. CCT was 525.5 ± 28.4 μm in the right eye and 534.8 ± 29.8 μm in the left eye. Right eye was dominant in 63 (72.4%) patients. CCT in the dominant eye was 528.0 ± 29.5 μm and was significantly thinner (P < 0.001) than the nondominant eye (532.2 ± 29.3 μm). This was true in 69.0% of the patients. However, thinner cornea in a person was not indicative of a dominant eye (P = 0.535). Conclusions: As with other populations, right eye dominance was seen in South Indian population among nonpathological eyes. CCT is predominantly thinner in the dominant eye. Yet, this result cannot be applied to an individual by labeling the eye with thinner cornea as dominant with precision.