Central Corneal Thickness Measurement in Sub-Saharan Africa: Review

Abstract

The aim of this study is to evaluate the central corneal thickness (CCT) for non-glaucomatous and glaucomatous subjects in Sub-Saharan Africans (SSA). This is a review of literature for corneal thickness measurement in Sub-Saharan Africa. We conducted an electronic search from the following databases: Pubmed, Google, Embase websites for the articles of original studies on central corneal thickness conducted in Africa. 1637 non-glaucomatous patients had drawn from 5 SSA countries (South Africa, Nigeria, Ghana, Cameroon, Ethiopia) and 705 glaucomatous patients from 5 SSA countries (Ghana, Uganda, Nigeria, Ethiopia, Ivory Coast). The patient’s ages were range of 5 to 90 years for non-glaucomatous and 7 to 90 years for glaucomatous patients. The outcome of the central corneal thickness (CCT) was ranged of 440μm 670μm and its mean value varied from 512 μm to 550 μm for non glaucomatous subjects. The thicker and thinner mean values were found in Nigeria and South Africa respectively. The type of glaucoma founded was primary openangle glaucoma (POAG), pseudoexfoliation glaucoma (PEX), and the mean IOP was range of 11.55mmHg to 32.72mmHg. The mean value of CCT for glaucomatous subjects varied from 508.07μm 538μm. The thicker and thinner mean values were found in Nigeria and Ethiopia respectively. The CCT is naturally thin for the SSA, it is for non-glaucomatous such as glaucomatous subjects, but it is thicker for younger than older age. This finding is comparable to the North African people, African Americans and Afro-Caribbeans but for African Americans and Afro-Caribbeans is always included in the normal value.