Effect of intraocular pressure control on central corneal thickness, horizontal corneal diameter, and axial length in primary congenital glaucoma

Abstract

To assess the effect of intraocular pressure (IOP) control on central corneal thickness (CCT), horizontal corneal diameter (HCD), and axial length (AL) in primary congenital glaucoma (PCG). The medical records of children under 10 years of age surgically treated for PCG from 2003 to 2012 were retrospectively reviewed to identify patients with IOP of ≤12 mm Hg with a minimum of 6 months' follow-up. Pre- and post-treatment IOP, CCT, HCD, and AL values were correlated and compared with those of healthy age-matched controls. A total of 131 controls and 20 patients (12 bilateral; 8 unilateral) were included. Mean follow-up was 32.4 months. In 24 eyes IOP was controlled by 1 trabeculotomy, with 6 eyes requiring antiglaucoma medication; in 5 eyes, by 2 trabeculotomies, without medication; and in 3 eyes, by 2 trabeculotomies plus 1 with mitomycin-C and 2 eyes requiring antiglaucomatous medication. The mean IOP was 15.69 ± 5.31 mm Hg preoperatively and 6.16 ± 2.42 mm Hg at final follow-up. Mean pre- and postoperative CCT values were, respectively, 614.38 ± 89.41 μm and 548.56 ± 63.12 μm; HCD, 13.45 ± 1.00 mm and 13.98 ± 1.01 mm, respectively; AL, 24.57 ± 2.71 mm and 25.37 ± 2.66 mm, respectively. All differences were statistically significant (P ≤ 0.002). In 40% of patients, post-treatment CCT values were comparable to those of controls; in 6.2%, HCD measurements; and in 26%, AL measurements. Pre- and post-treatment measurements were positively correlated (P ≤ 0.009). Controlling IOP had a positive effect on the CCT, HCD, and AL in patients with congenital glaucoma.