Relationship between corneal thickness and severity of visual field loss in primary open-angle glaucoma

To assess whether central corneal thickness is related to glaucomatous visual field loss severity among patients with office-controlled intraocular pressure in the normal range. This transversal study included 85 eyes of 85 patients with treated primary open-angle glaucoma and documented intraocular pressure below 19 mmHg. The patients were divided into three groups according to Anderson criteria of field abnormality. The groups were composed of 30 eyes with mild defect, 28 eyes with moderate defect and 27 eyes with severe defect. Intraocular pressure and central cornea thickness were compared and evaluated between the three groups. Central corneal thickness was statistically thinner in the severe group (mean= 513 +/- 26 microm) compared with the mild defect group (mean= 535 +/- 35 microm) and the moderate group (mean= 533 +/- 30 microm) (p = 0.0182). There was no statistically significant difference between intraocular pressures in the three groups (p = 0.0851). The severe group showed a statistically higher age and number of medications than the other groups. The central corneal thickness measurement is desirable when establishing target intraocular pressure of patients with open-angle glaucoma. Central corneal thickness is a clinical factor in determining glaucoma severity. Patients with severe field loss showed lower corneal thickness compared with patients with mild and moderate visual field loss.