CCT may play role in increased risk of glaucoma in blacks, Hispanics

Central corneal thickness may be an important mediator regarding the increased risk of glaucoma among black and Hispanic subjects, according to a study.

The cross-sectional study consisted of 81,082 subjects older than 40 years who had a central corneal thickness (CCT) measurement; only right eyes were included in the study. Demographic characteristics and clinical information were collected.

Within the study population, 19,878 subjects (24.5%) had some form of open-angle glaucoma, 28,496 subjects (25.1%) had a glaucoma suspect diagnosis, and 9,082 subjects (11.2%) had ocular hypertension; 17,779 subjects (21.9%) did not have a glaucoma-related diagnosis.

Female sex, older age and black race were associated with thinner corneas regardless of glaucoma diagnosis.

Variation in CCT was found to explain 29.4% of the higher risk of glaucoma in black subjects compared with white subjects and 29.5% of the higher risk in Hispanic subjects compared with white subjects.

In a subgroup analysis of Asian subjects, corneas of Chinese, Japanese and Korean subjects were 6 µm to 13 µm thicker than South and Southeast Asian, Filipino and Pacific Islander subjects (P < .001) for each glaucoma diagnosis.

“Our results highlight the importance of pursuing further studies to determine the physiological mechanisms by which variation in CCT between races may confer increased risk of glaucoma,” the study authors said.

Disclosure: The authors have no relevant financial disclosures.