Relationship between Corneal Thickness and Radius to Body Height.

Abstract

To investigate the possible association between body stature (height) and corneal thickness and radius in younger-adult Caucasians, especially within the context of previously published literature. Body height and weight were measured in 109 healthy subjects, with an average age of 24 ± 6 years (mean ± SD). Subjects underwent an ophthalmic assessment including anterior segment imaging by Scheimpflug topography and specular microscopy. Central and peripheral corneal thickness and corneal radius were analyzed. The relationship between body stature and corneal parameters was assessed using simple and multiple regression analysis. Effect size was determined by generating regression and correlation coefficients. Body height ranged from 1.54 to 1.86 m (mean ± SD 1.67 ± 0.08 m), central corneal thickness from 465 to 629 μm (554 ± 33 μm), whereas corneal radius measured between 7.16 and 8.49 mm (7.75 ± 0.24 mm). Body height was weakly associated with central corneal thickness and peripheral corneal thickness (r ≥ -0.180), and moderately with corneal radius (r = 0.351). Based on the regression equations, central corneal thickness decreases by 8 μm, whereas corneal radius increases by 0.11 mm for each 0.1-m difference in body height. No significant correlations were found for similar assessments using body weight or body mass index. Differences in corneal radius and corneal thickness can be linked to body stature. However, effect sizes were consistently small and no more than 13% of the variability in corneal curvature could be explained by variations in body stature.