Central Corneal Thickness in Children With Intellectual Disability: A Controlled Study

Abstract

To evaluate the central corneal thickness (CCT) in children with intellectual disability (ID) and to determine the association between ID-related variables and CCT. A total of 77 subjects with ID and 38 healthy controls were included in the study. The subjects with ID were subdivided into mild (IQ 50-69; n = 34), moderate (IQ 35-49; n = 30), and severe (IQ <34; n = 13) groups and syndromic (n = 40) versus nonsyndromic (n = 37) distinctions. All children underwent CCT assessment by ultrasound pachymetry, in addition to complete ophthalmologic examination. Analysis of variance, chi test, and linear regression analysis were used for statistical analysis. CCT was significantly higher in the ID group (549.7 +/- 21.4 microm) than that the control group (521.6 +/- 16.9 microm; P < 0.0001). Linear regression analysis revealed that presence of syndromic etiology significantly predicted higher CCT among the individuals with ID (P < 0.0001). Children with ID have an increased CCT compared with healthy controls. Syndromic etiology is the only variable that predicts higher CCT among the individuals with ID. Although the finding of an increased CCT in children with ID is statistically significant, it is not clinically significant.