[Central corneal thickness and retinal nerve fiber layer thickness in ocular hypertensive patients and healthy subjects].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the retinal nerve fiber layer thickness and the central corneal thickness in ocular hypertensive patients and healthy subjects. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We prospectively included 55 ocular hypertensive patients (126 eyes) and 63 healthy subjects (110 eyes). In each individual we measured standard automatic perimetry, frequency doubling technique visual field, and central corneal thickness with an ultrasonic pachymeter and optical coherence tomography (OCT). Retinal nerve fiber layer thickness was evaluated with GDx-VCC and OCT.
RESULTS: Central corneal thickness was significantly thicker in ocular hypertensive patients (p<0.009 and p<0.033 respectively). We found a significant correlation between ultrasonic pachymeter and OCT central corneal thickness in both groups (p<0.0001). Retinal nerve fiber layer thickness was not statistically different between healthy and ocular hypertensive subjects, but was significantly thinner in ocular hypertensive patients with thin central corneal thickness only with GDx-VCC. In the control group, no statistically significant linear correlation was noted between central corneal thickness and retinal nerve fiber layer thickness. In the ocular hypertensive group, we found a linear correlation between ultrasonic pachymeter and OCT central corneal thickness and the average retinal nerve fiber layer thickness with the GDx-VCC. DISCUSSION: Retinal nerve fiber layer thickness was globally similar in both healthy and ocular hypertensive subjects.
CONCLUSION: Although some statistically significant differences in the retinal nerve fiber layer thickness were observed between these two groups, they were not clinically relevant.