Corneal densitometry and topography in patients with primary congenital glaucoma.

OBJECTIVE

To compare corneal densitometry and topography variables in patients with primary congenital glaucoma (PCG) and healthy subjects.

MATERIAL AND

METHODS

Cross sectional study, consecutive recruitment with gender- and age-matched control group. Forty eyes of 40 patients in each group were studied with Pentacam corneal topography. The variables compared between the two groups were: intraocular pressure (IOP), visual acuity (VA) and Pentacam (Oculus, Wetzlar, Germany) corneal topography measurements: mean and maximum keratometry (Km, Kmax), cylinder (Cyl), anterior elevation apex (AEA), central anterior elevation (CAE), maximum anterior elevation (MAE), posterior elevation apex (PEA), central posterior elevation (CPE), maximum posterior elevation (MPE), pachymetry and anterior, mid-stromal and posterior corneal densitometry in the 0-2mm, 2-6mm, 6-10mm zones.

RESULTS

Significant differences between patients and healthy controls were detected in the topographic variables MAE (P=0.002) and MPE (P<0.001), and in all the densitometry variables (anterior, mid-stromal, posterior for the 0-2mm, 2-6mm and 6-10mm zones) (P<0.001 each). In the PCG group, negative correlation was observed between VA and total densitometry (r=-0.49; P=0.004).

CONCLUSION

Patients with PCG and healthy subjects display differences in corneal densitometry and topographic measurements. PCG patients show greater corneal density with an inverse relationship between visual acuity and higher elevation (anterior and posterior values).