Central corneal thickness in children with congenital cataract and children with surgical aphakia: a case-control study
- Alvaro PC Lupinacci (alvaro.lupinacci{at}gmail.com),
- Marcelo LS Jordão,
- Graziela Massa,
- Carlos EL Arieta,
- Vital P Costa
- State University of Campinas, Brazil
- State University of Campinas, Brazil
- State University of Campinas, Brazil
- State University of Campinas, Brazil
- State University of Campinas, Brazil
- Published Online First 19 November 2008
Abstract
Aim: To measure the CCT of children with congenital cataract and surgical aphakia.
Methods: Children with congenital cataract or surgical aphakia were prospectively recruited and divided in four groups: unilateral cataract (Group 1, n=14), bilateral cataract (Group 2, n=17), unilateral aphakia (Group 3, n=32) and bilateral aphakia (Group 4, n=44). An age-, sex-, and race-matched control group of normal individuals was selected. Ultrasonic pachymetry was performed by the same observer.
Results: Mean CCT of the control group was not significantly different from the normal (p=0.747) and cataractous eyes of Group 1 (p=0.252). Mean CCTs of both eyes of Group 2 were significantly higher than the control group (p<0.01). Mean CCT of the aphakic eyes in Group 3 was significantly higher than the contralateral healthy eyes and control eyes (p<0.001). Mean CCTs of both eyes of Group 4 were significantly higher than the control group (p<0.001). Mean CCT was significantly higher in aphakic eyes of Groups 3 and 4 than in cataractous eyes of Groups 1 and 2 (p<0.001).
Conclusions: Aphakic eyes due to congenital cataract show thicker corneas than normal phakic eyes. Aphakic eyes after congenital cataract extraction show thicker corneas than eyes with congenital cataracts, suggesting that the increase in CCT occurs postoperatively.
