Background: Corneal thickness measurements are important in refractive surgery , for interpretation of IOP and in corneal diseases. The purpose of this study w as to generate specific standard values for the Pentacam system and to investiga te the influence of body size, body mass index, body weight, gender and refracti on on central and peripheral corneal thickness for a more detailed characterizat ion of the corneal anatomy. Materials and Methods: The Pentacam system is based on a 180°rotating computer-aided Scheimpflug camera, which generates reconstru ctions of the anterior segment from 12 to 50 single captures. The central corneal thickness was calculated from 25 single captures in both eyes of 182 normal Caucasian subj ects (age: 18-83 years). The peripheral corneal thickness was measured within 3 mm distances at 0°, 90°, 180°and 270. All subjects underwent an ophthalmolog ical examination. Correlations between corneal thickness and body size, body mas s index, body weight, gender and refraction were analyzed statistically by non- parametric tests. Results: The mean central corneal thickness of all 364 eyes wa s 534 ±36 μm. Divided into sides it was the same, 534 ±36 μm, in the right a nd in the left eyes. The mean central corneal thickness for female subjects was 533 ±40 μm, for males it was 534 ±35 μm. Statistically there was no proof of any dependence of the central corneal thickness values on the sides, gender, ag e, height, body mass index (BMI) or refraction. However, there was a positive si gnificant correlation between central corneal thickness and body weight. The per ipheral corneal thickness values were lowest in the temporal and inferior areas and greatest in the superior and in the nasal areas. In the superior and in the nasal areas there was a statistically significant negative correlation between a ge and peripheral corneal thickness. Conclusions: The corneal thickness can be m easured touchless with the Pentacam system. The central corneal thickness seems to be correlated with the body weight. Anatomical features lead to lower periphe ral corneal thickness values in the temporal and inferior areas than in the nasa l and superior areas. In the nasal and in the superior areas the corneal thickne ss seems to decrease with age. Further trials are necessary to confirm these fin dings and to evaluate the precision, reproducibilitiy and independence of invest igators of the corneal pachymetry with the Pentacam system.
展开▼
