Graefe's Archive for Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology
Volume 241, Number 8, 652-655, DOI: 10.1007/s00417-003-0736-3

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Club Jules Gonin

Clinical Investigation

Comparison between central corneal thickness and IOP in patients with macrodiscs with physiologic macrocup and normal-sized vital discs

Arne Viestenz, Nina Wakili, Anselm G. M. Jünemann, Folkert K. Horn and Christian Y. Mardin

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Abstract

Background  

Macrodiscs with physiologic macrocups and elevated intraocular pressure (IOP) are frequently suspicious for glaucoma. Patients with an elevated c/d ratio and an IOP of more than 21 mmHg are often treated for glaucoma. We investigated a possible relationship between macrodiscs, IOP and central corneal thickness.

Methods  

Using the Erlangen glaucoma registry, 341 out of 1,096 consecutive patients with unremarkable and repeated visual field (Octopus 500, G1-3, MD<2.1) were selected. Most of these patients had been sent as glaucoma suspects. The following data were collected: corneal ultrasound pachymetry (Tomey, AL-2000), IOP profile, visual acuity and central corneal power. The morphometric analysis was performed by planimetry using the Littmann formula. Optic nerve heads with a disc area of more than 3.1 mm2 were defined as macrodiscs.

Results  

Patients were subdivided into the following groups: group A: healthy macrodiscs, IOP <22 mmHg (87 patients); group B: healthy macrodiscs, IOP >21 mmHg (66 patients); group C: normal-sized healthy discs, IOP <22 mmHg (93 patients); group D: normal-sized healthy discs, IOP >21 mmHg (95 patients). Mean corneal thickness was: group A: 575±36 mgrm, group B: 596±37 mgrm, group C: 557±31 mgrm and group D: 585±38 mgrm (P=0.003). Mean central corneal power measured: group A: 41.7±1.3 D, group B: 42.4±1.3 D, group C: 43.0±1.2 D and group D: 42.8±1.2 D (P<0.05). The maximum of IOP was: group A: 17.6±3.1, group B: 26.2±4.1, group C: 17.2±3.4 and group D: 29.7±5.5 mmHg. Optic disc size measurements were: group A: 3.91±0.66, group B: 3.65±0.6, group C: 2.56±0.30 mm2 and group D: 2.39±0.39 mgrm, respectively.

Conclusions  

Macrodiscs with elevated IOP have a higher corneal curvature (mean: +0.7 D) and a thicker central cornea (mean: +21 mgrm) compared to macrodiscs without elevated IOP. An exact evaluation of optic disc morphology in combination with pachymetric and keratometric measurements in relation to IOP could avoid an overtreatment in patients with suspect primary open-angle glaucoma.
This study was supported by SFB 539, project A1 and A2. Parts of the manuscript were presented at the 100th annual meeting of the DOG in Berlin 2002.

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