The Effect of Central Corneal Thickness on the Intraocular Pressure of Patients at a Rural Cataract Eye Camp in Nigeria

Eze UA; Ogbedo EN; Adepoju ST; Uzozie CC; Emelumadu CM; Orji IO; Ndife TI; Akinyemi AO; Salimonu AA; Victor BA; Ndiomu S; Malobi TC; Onwuegbuna AA; Apakama AI; Alen HA

doi:10.61386/imj.v19i2.1070

Authors

Eze UA Department of Ophthalmology, Federal Medical Centre, Asaba, Nigeria
Ogbedo EN Depeartment of Ophthalmology, Federal Medical Centre, Asaba, Nigeria
Adepoju ST Department of Ophthalmology, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomosho, Nigeria
Uzozie CC Department of Ophthalmology, Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka/Guiness Eye Centre, Onitsha, Nigeria
Emelumadu CM Department of Ophthalmology, Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka/Guiness Eye Centre, Onitsha, Nigeria
Orji IO Depeartment of Ophthalmology, Federal Medical Centre, Asaba, Nigeria
Ndife TI Department of Ophthalmology, University of Uyo Teaching Hospital, Uyo, Nigeria
Akinyemi AO Depeartment of Ophthalmology, Federal Medical Centre, Asaba, Nigeria
Salimonu AA Depeartment of Ophthalmology, Federal Medical Centre, Asaba, Nigeria
Victor BA Depeartment of Ophthalmology, Federal Medical Centre, Asaba, Nigeria
Ndiomu S Depeartment of Ophthalmology, Federal Medical Centre, Asaba, Nigeria
Malobi TC Depeartment of Ophthalmology, Federal Medical Centre, Asaba, Nigeria
Onwuegbuna AA Department of Ophthalmology, Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka/Guiness Eye Centre, Onitsha, Nigeria
Apakama AI Department of Ophthalmology, Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka/Guiness Eye Centre, Onitsha, Nigeria
Alen HA Department of Ophthalmology, University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.61386/imj.v19i2.1070

Keywords:

Central Corneal Thickness, Intraocular Pressure, Rural Cataract Eye Camp, Nigeria

Abstract

Background: Understanding the effect of central corneal thickness (CCT) on intraocular pressure (IOP) is crucial for accurate measurement of IOP and glaucoma risk assessment.

Aim: To compare IOP values obtained before and after correction with central corneal thickness using the iCare tonometer among patients with cataract at a mobile eye outreach camp.

Methods: This was an institution-based cross-sectional study analysed consecutive records of baseline IOP, CCT values and corrected IOP from a mobile outreach register. Demographic data, such as age and sex were extracted. A Microsoft Excel sheet was created and data analysed with IBM SPSS version 25. Descriptive and inferential statistics were done, and a p-value less than 0.05 was considered significant.

Results: Records of 146 eyes of 73 patients were included of whom 64.4% were females and mean age of 53.2 years ± 13.72 SD. The mean baseline IOP, CCT and corrected IOP were 16.88mmHg ± 5.73 SD, 538.3µm ± 40.5 SD and 17.52mmHg ± 6.33 SD, respectively, on the right eye. While on the left, they were 16.08mmHg ± 6.06 SD, 537.1µm ± 52.7 SD and 16.61mmHg ± 6.29 SD, respectively. IOP increase with CCT correction was not significant.

Conclusion: The mean IOP increased following correction for CCT, but this was not statistically significant. However, the negative correlation between CCT and corrected IOP underscores the need to incorporate CCT adjustments in screening programs to improve the accuracy and guide public health interventions.