ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: To evaluate the effect of central corneal thickness (CCT) on the measurement of intraocular pressure (IOP) in normal myopic eyes before and after LASIK refractive surgery. METHODS: To determine CCT (by ultrasonic pachymeter NIDEC) and IOP (by Goldmann tonometer) in 27 patients (48 myopic eyes from -4 to -14 D) before LASIK (on Chiron Technolas 117) and 3 months after LASIK surgery. RESULTS: Mean CCT before LASIK was 543.8 microns (480-612), 3 months after was 430.6 microns (371-511), the difference--113.2 microns (48-157) is highly significant (p < 0.0001). Similar significant is also the decrease of mean IOP 3 months after surgery--about 5.4 mmHg (p < 0.0001). After LASIK surgery decrease IOP is 4.8 mmHg/100 microns. CCT is an important factor for accuracy of the Goldmann measurement. Myopic eyes need more attention, especially after photorefractive surgery, when CCT is decreased and therefore Goldmann IOP measurement is permanently underestimated.