The retinal nerve fibre layer thickness in glaucomatous hydrophthalmic eyes assessed by scanning laser polarimetry with variable corneal compensation in comparison with age-matched healthy children.

PURPOSE: To compare the thickness of the retinal nerve fibre layer (RNFL) in hydrophthalmic glaucomatous eyes in children with age-matched healthy controls using scanning laser polarimetry with variable corneal compensation (GDxVCC). METHODS: Twenty hydrophthalmic eyes of 20 patients with the mean age of 10.64 ± 3.02 years being treated for congenital or infantile glaucoma were included in the analysis. Evaluation of RNFL thickness measured by GDxVCC in standard Temporal-Superior-Nasal-Inferior-Temporal (TSNIT) parameters was performed. The results were compared to TSNIT values of an age-matched control group of 120 healthy children published recently as referential values. The correlation between horizontal corneal diameter and RNFL thickness in hydrophthalmic eyes was also investigated. RESULTS: The mean ± SD values in TSNIT Average, Superior Average, Inferior Average and TSNIT SD in hydrophthalmic eyes were 52.3 ± 11.4, 59.7 ± 17.1, 62.0 ± 15.6 and 20.0 ± 7.8 µm, respectively. All these values were significantly lower compared to referential TSNIT parameters of age-matched healthy eyes (p = 0.021, p = 0.001, p = 0.003 and p = 0.018, respectively). A substantial number of hydrophthalmic eyes laid below the level of 5% probability of normality in respective TSNIT parameters: 30% of the eyes in TSNIT average, 50% of the eyes in superior average, 30% of the eyes in inferior average and 45% of the eyes in TSNIT SD. No significant correlation between enlarged corneal diameter and RNFL thickness was found. CONCLUSIONS: The mean values of all standard TSNIT parameters assessed using GDxVCC in hydrophthalmic glaucomatous eyes in children were significantly lower in comparison with referential values of healthy age-matched children.

Central corneal thickness in microphthalmic eyes with or without history of congenital cataract surgery.

PURPOSE: To determine the central corneal thickness (CCT) in microphthalmic aphakic or pseudophakic eyes as well as in microphthalmic eyes without any history of eye surgery. METHODS: Thirty-two patients with a mean age of 6.41±5.24 years after congenital cataract surgery with absolute microcornea, i.e., horizontal corneal diameter (HCD)<10 mm, or relative microcornea, i.e., HCD 10-11 mm but in the affected eye at least 0.5 mm smaller compared to the fellow eye, formed group A. Thirteen patients of mean age 0.94±1.22 years with absolute or relative microcornea plus another developmental anomaly of an eye without any history of eye surgery formed group B. The patients with corneal edema or scars were excluded. The control group consisted of 124 healthy school-aged children. Horizontal corneal diameter was measured with caliper and CCT with an ultrasound pachymeter. In infants, these measurements were performed under general anesthesia. RESULTS: In 48 eyes in group A and in 16 eyes in group B, the mean CCT was 635.13±65.35 µm and 642.31±93.07 µm, respectively, which was significantly greater (p<0.0001 and p=0.0018) in comparison with the mean CCT (553.58±33.12 µm) in the control group. Regression curve demonstrated the significant increase of CCT values along with the decrease of HCD in microphthalmic eyes. CONCLUSIONS: Small corneas in microphthalmic eyes either with or without congenital cataract surgery have significantly higher CCT. The results demonstrate significant negative correlation between horizontal corneal diameter and CCT.

Retinal nerve fiber layer assessment in healthy children using scanning laser polarimetry with variable corneal compensation.

PURPOSE: To assess the normative data of the retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness in healthy children using the scanning laser polarimeter with variable corneal compensation (GDxVCC). METHODS: Of the 186 enrolled white school-aged children, 120 subjects of the mean 12.85 +/- 3.0 years (age +/- SD) fulfilled inclusion criteria. After complete ophthalmic examination, including GDxVCC, 240 normal eyes were analyzed. Evaluation of RNFL thickness in GDxVCC temporal-superior-nasal-inferior-temporal (TSNIT) parameters was performed, and probability of normality was calculated. The influence of sex and age was investigated. RESULTS: The mean +/- SD values in TSNIT Average, Superior Average, Inferior Average, and TSNIT SD were 58.98 +/- 6.92 microm, 72.99 +/- 8.97 microm, 71.18 +/- 10.92 microm, and 26.30 +/- 4.92 microm. The values of 5% probability of normality in the same order were 47.6 microm, 58.2 microm, 53.2 microm, and 18.2 microm. The mean values of Inferior Average and TSNIT SD were greater in left eyes by 1.84 +/- 6.6 microm (p = 0.003) and by 3.04 +/- 3.8 microm (p < 0.00005), respectively. No correlation to sex and age was found. CONCLUSIONS: RNFL thickness assessed using GDxVCC was greater in children compared with previous published data in healthy adults. The values of Inferior Average and TSNIT SD were significantly greater in left eyes.