Longitudinal change in central corneal thickness among primary schoolchildren

Hassan Hashemi; Mehdi Khabazkhoob; Elham Azizi; Mohammad Hassan Emamian; Akbar Fotouhi

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Longitudinal change in central corneal thickness among primary schoolchildren

Hassan Hashemi ^[1] ; Mehdi Khabazkhoob ^[2] ; Elham Azizi ^[3] ; Mohammad Hassan Emamian ^[5] ; Akbar Fotouhi ^[4]
1. [1] Noor Eye Hospital
  
  Noor Eye Hospital
  
  Irán
2. [2] Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences
  
  Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences
  
  Irán
3. [3] University of Melbourne
  
  University of Melbourne
  
  Australia
4. [4] Tehran University of Medical Sciences
  
  Tehran University of Medical Sciences
  
  Irán
5. [5] Ophthalmic Epidemiology Research Center, Shahroud University of Medical Sciences, Shahroud, Iran
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Localización: Journal of Optometry: peer-reviewed Journal of the Spanish General Council of Optometry, ISSN-e 1888-4296, Vol. 18, Nº. 1, 2025
Idioma: inglés
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Resumen
- Purpose To investigate the longitudinal changes in corneal thickness and its contributing factors in primary schoolchildren.
  
  Methods This study is a part of the Shahroud Schoolchildren Eye Cohort Study, conducted longitudinally in two phases; in 2015 and then in 2018. Participants were tested for uncorrected visual acuity, best-corrected visual acuity, cycloplegic refraction, biometry, and Scheimpflug corneal imaging.
  
  Results After applying the exclusion criteria, 8782 eyes from 4432 participants were analysed. Of these, 2309 (52.1%) were male. Average three-year changes in central corneal thickness (CCT) and corneal apex thickness were −0.58 (95% CI: −0.94 to −0.22) and −0.59 (95% CI: −0.95 to −0.23) microns, respectively. There was an increase of 8.63 (95% CI: 8.1 to 9.17) microns in the superior corneal thickness after three years while the inferior corneal thickness decreased by an average of −5.75 (95% CI: −6.3 to −5.2) microns. The multiple generalized estimating equation (GEE) model showed that the three-year changes in the CCT were lower in rural than in urban students (β = −1.71; p < 0.001). Moreover, the baseline CCT (β = −0.04; p < 0.001), anterior chamber depth (β = −1.6; p = 0.003), and corneal diameter (β = −1.18; p < 0.001) had a significant inverse association while the body mass index (β = 0.12; p = 0.002) and axial length (β = 0.84; p < 0.001) had a significant direct association with the 3-year changes in CCT. After three years, CCT decreased by advancing age in boys, while remaining almost constant in girls.
  
  Conclusion The 3-year change in CCT was clinically negligible and could indicate its stability in schoolchildren. However, CCT thinning was more remarkable in urban students.