PURPOSE: To evaluate central corneal thickness (CCT) in children over time. DESIGN: Prospective observational case series. METHODS: CCT was measured by ultrasonic pachymetry in 69 eyes of 38 subjects age 3 to 14 years recruited from the Duke University Eye Center. Subjects included patients with and without glaucoma. RESULTS: For eyes on no glaucoma medication, the mean change in CCT was -1.9 +/- 14 microm (n = 30; mean time between CCT measurements, 567 days). For eyes on stable glaucoma medication, the mean change in CCT was +8.1 +/- 26 microm (n = 27; mean time between CCT measurements, 580 days). For eyes with a change in medical therapy between visits, the mean change in CCT was -3.8 +/- 24 microm (n = 8, mean number of days between visits 723). Four eyes underwent trabeculectomy between measurements and experienced a mean change in CCT of -9.0 +/- 6 microm with a mean of 1257 days between measurements. These CCT changes were not statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: CCT of children ages 3 to 14 years appears stable over a one- to two-year interval.
PURPOSE: To evaluate central corneal thickness (CCT) in children over time. DESIGN: Prospective observational case series. METHODS: CCT was measured by ultrasonic pachymetry in 69 eyes of 38 subjects age 3 to 14 years recruited from the Duke University Eye Center. Subjects included patients with and without glaucoma. RESULTS: For eyes on no glaucoma medication, the mean change in CCT was -1.9 +/- 14 microm (n = 30; mean time between CCT measurements, 567 days). For eyes on stable glaucoma medication, the mean change in CCT was +8.1 +/- 26 microm (n = 27; mean time between CCT measurements, 580 days). For eyes with a change in medical therapy between visits, the mean change in CCT was -3.8 +/- 24 microm (n = 8, mean number of days between visits 723). Four eyes underwent trabeculectomy between measurements and experienced a mean change in CCT of -9.0 +/- 6 microm with a mean of 1257 days between measurements. These CCT changes were not statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: CCT of children ages 3 to 14 years appears stable over a one- to two-year interval.