Corneal Topography and Corneal Thickness in Children

Abstract

To evaluate the corneal topography, thickness, and elevation (anterior and posterior corneal surface) in children. One hundred eyes of 100 patients with a mean ± standard deviation age of 10.6 ± 2.7 years (range: 5 to 15 years) were imaged. The corneal elevation maps were classified into regular ridge, irregular ridge, incomplete ridge, island, and unclassified patterns. Mean simulated keratometry (Sim K) astigmatism was -0.69 ± 0.35 diopters (D) with mean maximum and minimum keratometry (K) of 44.26 ± 1.55 and 43.56 ± 1.57 D, respectively. Mean astigmatism and refractive power in the 3- and 5-mm zones was 0.64 ± 0.36, 43.85 ± 1.53 and 0.78 ± 0.5, 43.41 ± 1.48, respectively. The thinnest site on the cornea had an average thickness of 540 ± 34.03 μm. This site was most commonly located in the inferotemporal quadrant in 61% of eyes, followed by the superotemporal quadrant in 31%. Among the nine regions of the cornea evaluated, the central cornea had the lowest average thickness of 540 ± 34.03 μm and the superonasal cornea had the greatest average thickness of 628 ± 38.94 μm. The most common anterior corneal elevation pattern was the incomplete ridge (52%), followed by the island pattern. The incomplete ridge was most commonly observed on the posterior corneal elevation map (35%). These results provide normal standards for elevation and curvature topography and corneal thickness in children. These data may prove useful as a reference for future comparative studies of different corneal diseases in children.