Relationship between central corneal thickness, refractive error, corneal curvature, anterior chamber depth and axial length

Abstract

Background: To determine the relationship between central corneal thickness (CCT), refractive error, corneal curvature, anterior chamber depth and axial length in normal Taiwanese Chinese adults.

Methods: Five hundred normal Taiwanese Chinese patients aged 40-80 years were recruited for the study. Measurement procedures included CCT, refractive error, corneal curvature, anterior chamber depth and axial length. Exclusion criteria were previous ocular surgery, glaucoma, trauma history, external eye disease, and previous contact lens use. The relationships among parameters were tested using Pearson's correlation and linear regression analysis.

Results: The median CCT was 555 +/- 27 mum for males and 553 +/- 30 mum for females. Eyes with more myopic refractive error tended to have greater axial length (r = -0.645, p < 0.001). Eyes with axial elongation tended to have flatter cornea (r = -0.502, p < 0.001) and deeper anterior chamber (r = 0.651, p < 0.001). There were no significant correlations between the CCT and refractive error (r = -0.034, p = 0.445), corneal curvature (r = 0.013, p = 0.770), anterior chamber depth (r = 0.023, p = 0.614) and axial length (r = -0.053, p = 0.223).

Conclusion: CCT was not associated with refractive error, corneal curvature, anterior chamber depth and axial length. CCT is an independent factor unrelated to other ocular parameters.