Longitudinal evaluation of central corneal thickness in congenital glaucoma.

PURPOSE: To assess the central corneal thickness in primary congenital glaucoma before and after surgical treatment and compare it with a normal population.

METHODS: We conducted a longitudinal analysis of primary congenital glaucoma patients, in whom we measured central corneal thickness before and after treatment (Group 1). We compared our results with a normal population (Group 2), who underwent ophthalmological examination under anesthesia for other reasons.

RESULTS: Mean age (months) in Group 1 (N=23) and Group 2 (N=40) at the time of the first exam was 5.5 and 9.2 (P=0.004), respectively. Mean central corneal thickness (microns) in Group 1 was: 663 before treatment and 557 after treatment (P<0.001). In Group 2, mean central corneal thickness (microns) was 551. Comparisons show statistical difference between mean values before and after treatment (P<0.001), but not between post-treatment CCT mean values in Group 1 and mean CCT values in Group 2 (P=0.627).

CONCLUSION: In primary congenital glaucoma, central corneal thickness values show unique peculiarities. They are higher than normal before treatment (thicker corneas), due to corneal edema caused by elevated intraocular pressure. After surgical treatment, central corneal thickness measurements decrease toward the mean values for the normal population.