Relationship between corneal thickness, corneal curvature, and intraocular pressure before and after laser treatment for simple myopia.

PURPOSE: To determine the relationship of central corneal thickness (CCT), curvature (CC), and intraocular pressure (IOP) as determinative factors for corneal biomechanics and in refractive surgery. METHODS: The study investigated 48 eyes from subjects who visited the Excimer Laser Surgery Clinic at the Department of Ophthalmology. The refractive error, IOP, CCT, and CC were measured in all participants. After 3 months, all examinations were repeated. RESULTS: Linear regression demonstrated a significant positive relationship between pre- and postoperative CCT, CC, and IOP values. The IOP showed a significant correlation with CCT (P = 0.033) for pre-PRK, but no significant relationship was seen post-PRK. The CCT also correlated significantly with CC both pre- and post-PRK (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The IOP was significantly correlated with CCT before PRK, but its behavior differed after surgery. Nearly the same correlation was seen between CCT and CC before and after the PRK; nevertheless, IOP measurements should be calculated or estimated more precisely after PRK based on CCT corrections.