Effect of allergic conjunctivitis on central corneal thickness and intra ocular pressure

Abstract

To study effect of allergic conjunctivitis on central corneal thickness and intra ocular pressure. This was a case control study which included 35 eyes of 20 patients with allergic conjunctivitis compared with 35 eyes of 35 patients of age and sex matched controls. Participants were subjected to complete ophthalmic examination including central corneal thickness(CCT) and intra ocular pressure(IOP) which were measured using ultrasound pachymeter and goldmann’s applanation tonometer respectively.Comparision of the data between the two groups was done using t test. The mean age in the study group was 25.23±9.2 years with 60% of the study group constituting male patients indicating male preponderance. Best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) in both groups was 6/24 or better which did not show any statistically significant difference (p>0.05). Mean CCT in the study group was 521.77±5.9µm whereas in the control group was 542.62 ± 5.42 µm which showed statistically significant difference between the two groups (t = 15.396, p < 0.0001). The mean IOP in the study group was 17.08 ± 1.8 mm of hg and the in the control group was found to be 11.79 ± 1.79 mm of hg which did not show any statistically significant difference(p>0.05). Central corneal thickness was significantly reduced in the allergic conjunctivitis patients compared to controls and IOP did not show any statistically significant difference.