Central corneal thickness and retrobulbar blood flow in glaucoma patients

BACKGROUND: A correlation between a thin cornea and the presence of vascular risk factors has recently been reported in normal-tension glaucoma patients. The present study intended to investigate the correlation between central corneal thickness and basal retrobulbar blood flow in glaucoma patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Corneal pachymetry and colour Doppler imaging (CDI) of the retrobulbar arteries (ophthalmic, central retinal and cilliary) were performed in 63 glaucoma patients. Linear mixed effect models were used to evaluate the association of central corneal thickness and retrobulbar blood flow. RESULTS: There was no significant correlation between central corneal thickness and blood flow in any of the assessed arteries (p = 0.13-0.88). CONCLUSIONS: A statistical relationship between central corneal thickness and retrobulbar blood flow could not be found in the examined sample of glaucoma patients.