Introduction

The aim of this study was to evaluate central corneal thickness in patients from Podbeskidzie area and to determine percentage of patients requiring correction of the intraocular pressure measured with Goldmann applanation tonometer.

Material and methods

We analyzed results of measurements of the central corneal thickness in 365 patients (242 females, 123 males). The study population was divided by gender and by age into 3 groups of people under 40, between 40 and 60 and over 60 years of age. The measurements of central corneal thickness were performed with ultrasonic pachymeter.

Results

Mean corneal thickness in examined eyes was 563.0 ± 38.1 μm. There was no statistically significant difference in central corneal thickness between men and women (F = 0.10; p = 0.71) but there was significant difference between group of age (F = 28.4; p = <0.001) and was interaction between gender and group of age under 40, between 40 and 60 and over 60 years of age (F = 4.60; p<0.05). There was statistically significant difference between women and men in the group 40–60 years of age (p<0.01). Among women there were statistically significant differences in corneal thickness among all age groups (p<0.01), among men between group of age over 60 and under 40 and between 40–60 years of age (p<0.001).

Conclusions

1. Measurement of central corneal thickness is necessary in order to obtain correct values of intraocular pressure measured with Goldmann applanation tonometer in 80% of patients. 2. In people over 60 year of age, especially in women, are expectet to have thinner corneas than younger individuals and it is useful to repeat measurement of central corneal thickness.