THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CENTRAL CORNEAL THICKNESS AND DEGREE OF AXIAL MYOPIA AMONG PATIENTS ATTENDING SHAHEED DR. ASO TEACHING HOSPITAL

Abstract

Background
 Central corneal thickness (CCT) is an important indicator of corneal health status. Myopia is the refractive state in which parallel rays of light from a distant object are brought to focus in front of the retina in the non-accommodating eye. Since, both cornea and sclera are continuous layers the thinner cornea would also be expected.
 Objectives
 The aim of this study is to determine whether there is an association between central corneal thickness and degree of axial myopia.
 Subjects and Methods
 This cross sectional study encompasses 103 patients (203 eyes) of emmetropic control group and 100 patients (197 eyes) of myopic group. The subjects had slit lamp examination for both eyes, including lids, conjunctiva, cornea, anterior chamber, pupil, iris, lens and fundus; best spectacle corrected visual acuity (BSCVA) refraction, and intraocular pressure (TOPCON computerized tonometer). Axial lengths, central corneal thickness, and keratometry reading were measured by a LENSTAR LS900 machine (HAAG-STREIT).
 Results
 The Mean CCT + SD for the emmetropic group was (539.35 ±28.98 μm), and for the axial myopic group (533.22 ±32.27μm). The mean CCT from the two groups showed a statistically significant difference (p = 0.047). However there is no significant correlation between mean CCT and the degree of axial myopia (r = 0.013, P = 0.109).
 Conclusion
 Central corneal thickness has no statistically significant correlation with degree of axial myopia.