European Journal of Anatomy

Official Journal of The Spanish Society of Anatomy
Cover Volume 5 - Number 2
Eur J Anat, 5 (2): 77-81 (2001)

Morphometric study of the hyperopic central cornea

Sanchis-Gimeno J.A., Casanova J., Lleo-Perez A., Alonso Munoz L., Rahhal M.S., Ruiz-Torner A., Martinez Soriano F.

Dpto. Ciencias Morfológicas, Facultad de Medicina, Avda. Blasco Ibáñez, 17. E-46010 Valencia, Spain

ABSTRACT Refractive surgery by means of excimer laser results in thinner postoperative corneas following corneal photoablation. This implies the need to previously measure the central corneal thickness in order to avoid the risk of keratectasia. In recent years and after the introduction of excimer laser refractive surgery, several studies have focused on corneal morphometry in myopic eyes. However, we have not found any references to hyperopic eyes. Following on from this, we have studied central corneal thickness in 100 healthy hyperopic eyes by using ultrasonic pachymetry. Patients were subdivided by refractive errors into group 1 (manifesting spherical equivalent refraction ? +4.00 diopters) and group 2 (manifesting spherical equivalent refraction > +4.00 diopters). In group 1, central corneal thickness was 555.20±33.31 ?m (mean ± standard deviation) and in group 2 it was 548.95±31.87. No significant differences were found between group 1 and group 2 (p= 0.346). In group 1 there were significant differences in mean central corneal thickness between females and males (p= 0.012) but not in group 2 (p= 0.947). No significant differences in the mean values of central corneal thickness as a function of age for the members of group 1 and group 2 were noted (p= 0.198 and p= 0.628, respectively). Central corneal anatomy in healthy hyperopic eyes is similar to that seen in myopic eyes.

Keywords: adult, age, article, controlled study, cornea disease, cornea injury, cornea thickness, diagnostic accuracy, excimer laser, female, gender, human, hypermetropia, keratectasia, major clinical study, male, morphometrics, myopia, quantitative diagnosis, refraction error, retina detachment, ultrasonic pachymetry, visual system examination

European Journal of anatomy
ISSN 2340-311X (Online)