Corneal Biomechanical Properties and Central Corneal Thickness in Pediatric Noninfectious Uveitis: A Controlled Study

Objective: To compare the corneal biomechanics, intraocular pressure (IOP), and central corneal thickness (CCT) of 37 patients with pediatric noninfectious uveitis with 36 healthy children. Methods: Corneal hysteresis (CH), corneal resistance factor (CRF), Goldmann-correlated and corneal-compensated IOP (IOPg and IOPcc, respectively), and CCT were measured. Results: The mean CRF was significantly lower in the pediatric uveitic eyes than controls (9.7 +/- 1.9 vs. 10.8 +/- 1.5 mm Hg, P=0.009), whereas there was no significant difference for mean CH, IOPg, IOPcc, and CCT between the two groups (10.1 +/- 1.9 vs. 10.8 +/- 1.7, 12.9 +/- 3.3 vs. 13.9 +/- 3.1, 13.8 +/- 2.8 vs. 13.6 +/- 3.2 mm Hg, and 550.7 +/- 49.5 vs. 555.1 +/- 33.5 mu m, respectively, all P>0.05). The CCT values correlated with CH and CRF, with a Pearson correlation of 0.511 and 0.670 (P=0.013 and P<0.001, respectively), whereas disease duration did not correlate with any corneal biomechanics or CCT in pediatric uveitic eyes (all P>0.05). Conclusions: Pediatric noninfectious uveitic eyes have lower CRF than controls but the CH, IOPg, IOPcc, and CCT values are similar.