TITLE:
Central Corneal Thickness in a Black African Population: A Retrospective Comparative Study of Normal, Ocular Hypertensive and Glaucomatous Eyes (162 Cases)
AUTHORS:
Alassane Ba, Said Dit Malobé Seck, Aissatou AW, Oulfath Adjibade, Mouhamed Ndiaye, Aly Mbara Ka
KEYWORDS:
Central Corneal Thickness, Glaucoma, Ocular Hypertension, Black African Population
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Ophthalmology,
Vol.16 No.4,
October
16,
2026
ABSTRACT: Introduction: Central corneal thickness (CCT) is an important parameter in the evaluation and monitoring of glaucoma. A thinner cornea may influence intraocular pressure (IOP) measurement and has been associated with an increased risk of glaucoma. The aim of this study was to compare CCT among normal, ocular hypertensive, and glaucomatous Black African patients. Methods: This retrospective study was conducted over a 10-month period (January-October 2024) and included medical records of glaucomatous and non-glaucomatous patients who had undergone ultrasonic pachymetry. CCT measurements and baseline clinical data were collected. Only right eyes were included for analysis. Statistical analysis was performed using R software, with a significance level set at p ≤ 0.05. Results: A total of 162 patients (162 eyes) were included: 68 normal subjects, 16 ocular hypertensive patients, and 78 glaucomatous patients. The mean age was 58.06 ± 15.42 years, with a male-to-female ratio of 1.41. The mean IOP was 19.28 ± 6.09 mmHg. The overall mean CCT was 515.7 ± 35.28 μm (range: 423 - 599 μm). Mean CCT was significantly lower in glaucomatous patients compared to ocular hypertensive and normal subjects (p = 0.0088). No significant correlation was found between CCT and IOP. Conclusion: In this Black African cohort, glaucomatous patients had significantly thinner corneas compared to normal and ocular hypertensive subjects. These findings support the importance of routine CCT assessment in the clinical evaluation of glaucoma in African populations.