Central Corneal Thickness Among Filipino Patients in an Ambulatory Eye Surgery Center Using Anterior Segment Optical Coherence Tomography

Abstract

Objective

The purpose of the study was to determine the central corneal thickness (CCT) among Filipino patients that may contribute to different glaucoma diagnosis using the anterior segment optical coherence tomography in an ambulatory eye surgery center.

Methods

A single-center retrospective, cross-sectional study design including 1232 eyes of 641 patients of the Asian Eye Institute, Makati, Philippines from January 2019 to December 2019 who had their CCT measured with Visante anterior segment optical coherence tomography (AS-OCT). CCT was correlated with age, sex, presence of diabetes and/or hypertension, and glaucoma diagnosis.

Results

Among 641 patients who had their CCT measured by Visante AS-OCT, 723 eyes of 369 patients were included. Nearly half of the study population were normal or glaucoma suspects. The mean CCT among Filipino patients was 535.59 ± 34.06 µm. Ocular hypertensive patients had the thickest CCT, while normal tension glaucoma patients had the thinnest CCT. After adjusting for multiple variables, CCT had a direct relationship with the presence of diabetes, IOP level and the diagnosis of ocular hypertension, while inverse relationship with age. Most of the patients presenting with angle closure glaucoma were females aged 60 and above.

Conclusion

Visante AS-OCT is a non-contact and non-aerosol generating instrument allaying the fear of disease transmission from contact or aerosolization of tears. Our study confirms similar relationships of CCT with age, presence of diabetes, IOP level, and diagnosis of ocular hypertension or normal tension glaucoma among Filipino patients with the available literature from other ethnicities.

Keywords:

• central corneal thickness
• Filipino
• AS-OCT
• Visante
• glaucoma diagnosis

Abbreviations

ACG, angle closure glaucoma; AS-OCT, anterior segment optical coherence tomography; CCT, central corneal thickness; CH, corneal hysteresis; COVID-19, Coronavirus disease 2019; GAT, Goldmann applanation tonometry; GS, glaucoma suspect; IOP, intraocular pressure; NTG, normal tension glaucoma; OAG, open angle glaucoma; OHT, ocular hypertension; OHTS, Ocular Hypertension Study; ORA, Ocular Response Analyzer; SCMC-AEI, St. Cabrini Medical Center-Asian Eye Institute; PAC, primary angle closure; PACS, primary angle closure suspect; PACG, primary angle closure glaucoma; POAG, primary open angle glaucoma; SG, secondary glaucoma; USP, ultrasound pachymetry.

Data Sharing Statement

The datasets used and analyzed in the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

Ethics Approval and Consent to Participate

Approval and adherence to the tenets of the Declaration of Helsinki was assessed by the St. Cabrini Medical Center-Asian Eye Institute (SCMC-AEI) Review Committee and was conducted upon approval (ERC#2020-016, August 11, 2020). Since all data collected were retrospective, the requirement of the informed consent is waived by the review committee. The patient anonymity and confidentiality were and are protected and preserved with identifiable data omitted.

Acknowledgments

The authors thank the Asian Eye Institute for support and guidance in making this paper.

Disclosure

The authors reported no conflicts of interest for this work.

Additional information

Funding

The authors have shouldered the expenses with no external assistance.