J Korean Ophthalmol Soc.  1986 Jun;27(3):287-293.

The Central and Peripheral Corneal Thickness in Normal Korean According to Age and Sex

• Lee JO
• Kim JH

Abstract

In order to study the age and sex variations in central corneal thickness and to investigate the peripheral corneal thickness according to measured sites, the authors measured the central and peripheral corneal thickness of 380 normal Korean eyes aged 10 to 69 years (190 males and 190 females). Measurements of corneal thickness were taken with a newly developed ultrasonic pachymeter, Vida-55. Central corneal thickness was measured at four different limbal areas(upper nasal of 45 degrees, upper temporal of 135 degrees, lower temporal of 225 degrees and lower nasal of 315 degrees) immediately central to the limbal vessel loops. The results obtained were as follows; 1. The mean central corneal thickness in normal 380 Korean eyes was 0.507 +/- 0.036mm(standard deviation). The average thickness in the group of males(0.515 +/- 0.035mm) is significantly higher than in the group of females(0.501 +/- 0.035mm)(p<0.001). 2. According to the site of peripheral cornea, the average thickness was 0.716 +/- 0.038mm in male and 0.721 +/- 0.055mm in female at upper nasal, 0.724 +/- 0.041 mm in male and 0.731 +/- 0.047mm in female at upper temporal, 0.744 +/- 0.028mm in male and 0.747 +/- 0.041mm in female at lower nasal and 0.747 +/- 0.028mm in male and 0.753 +/- 0.042mm in female at lower temporal respectively. 3. The central corneal thickness has a tendency to decrease in older age groups, and after 40 years of age this decrease statistically significant(p<0.05). 4. The thinnest site of peripheral cornea is upper nasal limbal area while the thickest is lower temporal in any age or sex group. The difference between these two sites is statistically significant(p<0.05) except females aged 50 to 69 years.

MeSH Terms

Cornea
Female
Humans
Male
Ultrasonics