Central corneal thickness in children: stability over time.

Abstract

To evaluate central corneal thickness (CCT) in children over time. Prospective observational case series. CCT was measured by ultrasonic pachymetry in 69 eyes of 38 subjects age 3 to 14 years recruited from the Duke University Eye Center. Subjects included patients with and without glaucoma. For eyes on no glaucoma medication, the mean change in CCT was -1.9 +/- 14 microm (n = 30; mean time between CCT measurements, 567 days). For eyes on stable glaucoma medication, the mean change in CCT was +8.1 +/- 26 microm (n = 27; mean time between CCT measurements, 580 days). For eyes with a change in medical therapy between visits, the mean change in CCT was -3.8 +/- 24 microm (n = 8, mean number of days between visits 723). Four eyes underwent trabeculectomy between measurements and experienced a mean change in CCT of -9.0 +/- 6 microm with a mean of 1257 days between measurements. These CCT changes were not statistically significant. CCT of children ages 3 to 14 years appears stable over a one- to two-year interval.