Role of central corneal thickness on baseline parameters and progression of visual fields in open angle glaucoma

PURPOSE. To evaluate the relationship of central corneal thickness (CCT) to baseline visual field parameters and visual field progression in patients with primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG). METHODS. Charts of consecutive patients with POAG were reviewed to obtain visual field data. Visual field was measured by standard threshold static perimetry. Variables analyzed included mean deviation (MD) and pattern standard deviation (PSD). RESULTS. A total of 121 eyes examined over 4 years were evaluated. A significant negative relationship between CCT and PSD (correlation coefficient: -0.02, p<0.05) was found. Analyses comparing CCT to change in PSD and MD (visual field progression) were statistically not significant. CONCLUSIONS. Patients with thinner corneas initially present with a greater visual field defect, indicating that thin corneas may contribute to advanced glaucomatous damage at the time of diagnosis. However, CCT does not seem to be a significant risk factor for progression of the disease.