Central Corneal Thickness and Thickness of the Lamina Cribrosa and Peripapillary Scleral in Monkeys

　　Jost B.Jonas Sohan Singh Hayreh Tao Yong

　　Department of Ophthalmology Medical Faculty Mannheim of the Ruprecht-Karls-University Heidelberg 3.68167 Mannheim Germany Departments of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences College of Medicine University of Iowa Iowa City Iowa 52242 10.USA 100005

　　Purpose:It was the purpose of the present study to evaluate whether central corneal thickness is related to the thickness of the lamina cribrosa and peripapillary sclera in monkeys.

　　Method:The study included 22 monkey eyes with an experimental occlusion of the central retinal artery.The histomorphometry of the optic nerve head was assessed.

　　Results:The central corneal thickness was not associated with the thickness of the lamina cribrosa in the optic disc center(P=0.31)or in the periphery of the optic nerve head(P=0.29)nor with the thickness of the sclera within the optic nerve meninges(P=0.41)or outside of the optic nerve meninges(P=0.16).The peripheral corneal thickness was not associated with the thickness of the lamina cribrosa in the optic disc center(P=0.73)or in the periphery of the optic nerve head(P=0.55)nor with the thickness of the sclera within the optic nerve meninges(P=0.23).

　　Conclusions:The results suggest that an assumed relationship between central corneal thickness and glaucoma susceptibility may not be explained by a corresponding anatomy between corneal thickness and histomorphometry of the optic nerve head.