Introduction

To evaluate central corneal thickness in children with congenital glaucoma.

Material and methods

Central corneal thickness was measured with the use of ultrasound pachymeter in 49 eyes of 30 children, with congenital glaucoma aged 0–12 years.

Results

Mean central corneal thickness was 462 µm. Very wide differences between minimum and maximum recorded values were observed (380-780 µm). Three groups of patients could be distinguished: with very thin cornea of 380-450 µm (73% children), with normal corneal thickness of about 550 µm (15%) and with very thick cornea of 680-780 µm (12% patients).

Conclusions

1. Mean central corneal thickness in children with congenital glaucoma is significantly thinner than in healthy children in the same age and in adult patients with glaucoma. A very wide differences between minimum and maximum recorded values, are observed in these patients. 2. The results of applanation tonometric measurements are underestimated in most cases or less frequently overestimated. 3. The measurements of central corneal thickness should be performed in every patient with congenital glaucoma to correct the IOP values.