Correlation between Central Corneal Thickness and Degree of Myopia among Malaysian Patients Undergoing Laser Keratorefractive Surgery

Purpose: To determine the central corneal thickness in myopic adult patients scheduled for laser corneal refractive surgery and to explore its correlation with degree of refractive error.

Materials and Methods: The case records of 130 myopic patients who underwent laser corneal refractive surgery in a military hospital over a period of two years were reviewed to determine the central corneal thickness. All patients had 6/6 vision with best correction, and did not have any other anterior segment or fundus diseases in both eyes. The central corneal thickness was measured with Visante Carl Zeiss anterior segment optical coherence tomography instrument.

Results: Out of 130 patients, males were more (73, 56.2%); mean age of patients was 33.8 years (range 18-60 years) and majority were Malays (110, 84.6%). The spherical power of myopia ranged from – 0.5 to – 10.00 D, and the cylindrical power ranged from – 0.25 to – 3.25 D. The mean central corneal thickness of both eyes was 528.2 µm (range 331- 615 µm); in the mild degree of myopia (- 0.50 to - 2.00 D) 527.9 µm, moderate degree (- 2.25 to -5.00 D) 529.4 µm, and high degree (-5.25 to -11.00 D) 523.9 µm.

Conclusion: The anterior segment optical coherence tomography provides noncontact, rapid, pachymetry mapping of the corneal thickness. In Malaysian patients, the mean central corneal thickness of both eyes in myopia was 528.1 µm (range 331- 615 µm). There was no correlation between the mean central corneal thickness and degree of myopia, different genders, age groups, ethnic groups and two eyes.