Correlation between Corneal Thickness and Degree of Myopic Refractory Error

Background: corneal thickness is an important factor in refractive surgeries such as Radial Keratotomy (RK), Photo Refractive Keratotomy (PRK) and Laser Insitu Keratomileusis (LASIK). This study evaluated the correlation between this factor and the degree of myopic refractory error. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 224 myopic eyes (112 patients) which had undergone LASIK operation were assessed. These patients had referred to Aban Eye Clinic, Isfahan, Iran, during August and September 2002. Corneal thickness was measured by ORB SCAN Topoghraphy, and cycloplegic refraction was performed with autorefratometery and retinoscopy. Suspected keratoconus cases and hyperopic patients were excluded. Results: The patients age was 27.2 ± 1.36 in men (N = 35) and 30.13 ± 1.04 in women (N = 77). Mean value of myopic refractory error in male patients was 5.1 ± 0.24D and in female patients was 3.8 ± 0.36D. Mean of corneal thickness was 540 ± 5.25 flM and 530 ± 5.88 flM in male and female patients respectively. There was no correlation between the degree of myopia and corneal thickness in any of the patients. Also in this research, no relations between the age and myopia were found. Right eye (P 0.5, r = 0.124) Left eye (P 0.5, r = 0.104) Conclusion: Based on our findings, corneal thickness and myopic refectory error do not seem to have any relations. (r = 0.039, P = 0.684).