The effect of central corneal thickness on Goldmann tonometry: a retrospective study

Purpose: To determine the relation between central corneal thickness and intraocular pressure. Patients and methods: This retrospective study investigated 112 eyes from 56 individuals who underwent photorefractive keratectomy in a single private medical center between May 2018 and September 2019. Intraocular pressure readings were obtained with Goldmann applanation tonometry, and central corneal thickness measurements were evaluated preoperatively. All the examinations were repeated at 3 and 6 months postoperative. Results: At 3 and 6 months postoperative, the mean intraocular pressure was only slightly reduced from baseline (mean reduction of 0.6 ± 2.0 mmHg, P < 0.001 and 0.73 ± 2.14 mmHg, P < 0.001, respectively). The change in intraocular pressure following photorefractive keratectomy was not clinically significant, and this change was not correlated with postoperative central corneal thickness at 3 months (p = 0.620, r = 0.047). Conclusion: This study showed that the change in intraocular pressure following photorefractive keratectomy was not clinically significant, and ruled out a correlation in this context between the change in central corneal thickness and the delta intraocular pressure. Our results might question the axiom between central corneal thickness and intraocular pressure and may thus challenge the current clinical setting for evaluating glaucoma.