Anterior Chamber Depth, Corneal Thickness and Corneal Endothelial Change following Decreased Intraocular Pressure

Jang, Jeung Hun; Hyun, Gil Hwa; Lee, Joo Hwa; Joo, Myung Jin

Abstract

PURPOSE: To determine the intraocular pressure (IOP) lowering effects on the change of anterior chamber depth (ACD), corneal thickness, corneal cell area and density in normal eyes.
METHODS
We investigated 58 eyes of 29 volunteers for this study whose refractive error was +/-3 D, IOP was below 21 mmHg, anterior segment and fundus was within normal limit. All of them had normal visual fields. They were randomly classified into two groups. Anterior chamber depth, IOP, central corneal thickness, cell density, cell area, and coefficient of variation of corneal endothelium were measured by single observer in each group. After oral medication of 50% glycerin 1 cc/kg (body weight) in group 1 and Diamox 500 mg and K-contin 600 mg in group 2, IOP, anterior chamber depth, central corneal thickness, cell density, cell area, and coefficient of variation were measured at 1, 2, and 3 hours.
RESULTS
In glycerin group after 1 hour, decreased IOP was stastically significant (P<0.05). In Diamox group after 2 hours, decreased IOP was stastically significant (P<0.05). But the change of anterior chamber depth, central corneal thickness, cell density, cell area, and coeff icient of variation was not stastically significant (p>0.05). There was no significant correlation between decreased IOP and the change of anterior chamber depth, central corneal thickness, cell density, cell area, and coefficient of variation. The IOP change was not statistically different between the two groups.
CONCLUSIONS
There was no stastically significant correlation between decreased IOP in normal range and the change of ACD, central corneal thickness, cell density, cell area, and coefficient of variation.