Distribution of the central corneal thickness in adult residents of Lithuania

Abstract

AbstractPurpose To determine the distribution of the central corneal thickness by age and gender in Lithuanian population.Methods Lithuanian residents in the age of 18 and senior, who were registered with the primary health care institutions (PHCI) of different Lithuanian cities and regions participated in the survey. Data including age, gender and measurement of central corneal thickness (CCT) of all tested persons was registered. CCT of each eye was measured by using the ultrasound contact pachymeter. The results were statistically analysed by SPSS 17,0 program.Results In total 1650 residents of Lithuania were tested, including 688 (41, 7%) men and 962 (58.3%) women. The average age among men was 57.31 ± 0.61, and among women ‐ 53, 63 ±0.74. The average CCT of individuals by age groups equalled to: 18‐29 (550,8 ±2,8 µm), 30‐39 (557,5±1,9 µm), 40‐49 (551,3±1,8 µm), 50‐59 (544,0±1,9 µm), 60‐69 (544,2±2,1 µm), 70‐79 (535,1±1,9 µm), and 80+ (530,1±1,1 µm)( p=0,000, p<0,05). The central corneal thickness of the tested men and women by different age groups (under 40, from 40 to 60 years of age, and over 60) was calculated in percentiles. Corneas of persons under 40 are thicker than of persons in the age between 40 and 60, and corneas of the tested senior persons over 60 are thinner in comparison with other age groups.Conclusion The average CCT among Lithuanian residents in general is 544,6± 0,7 m, 545,0±0,8 m of men, and 544,4±1,1 m of women. The thickest cornea among Lithuanian residents was measured in individuals under 40. In senior persons it becomes thinner by each decade from 2 to 8µm. The central corneal thickness has no relevance to gender.