Purpose: The aim of this study was to provide average values for central corneal thickness (CCT) and corneal curvature (CC) and also to determine a regression model for the relationship between CCT and CC in adult Nigerians without glaucoma.Methods: A total of 95 subjects consisting of 56 males and 39 females aged between 20 and 69 years with mean age of 47.1 ± 14.1 years were recruited for the study. Central corneal thickness was measured by ultrasound pachymetry (SW-1000P ultrasound pachymeter, Tianjin Suowei Electronic Technology, China) and corneal curvature was measured by keratometry (Bausch & Lomb keratometer H-135A, USA).Results: The average values of 550.1 ± 33.1µm and 43.0 ± 1.1 D were obtained for CCT and CC respectively. CCT significantly correlated with age (p=0.01), and the regression model predicts a decrease of 6.0 µm in CCT per decade. No significant association was found between CC and age (p=0.56). Also, no significant association was found between CCT and CC (p=0.07). Female subjects had significantly steeper corneas than their male counterparts.Conclusion: Central corneal thickness decreases with increasing age. Neither CCT nor age appear to be significantly correlated with corneal curvature. (S Afr Optom 2011 70(1) 44-50)
Comparison of the precision of the Topcon SP-3000P specular microscope and an ultrasound pachymeter
