CENTRAL CORNEAL THICKNESS AND REFRACTIVE ERROR OF ABIA STATE UNIVERSITY UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS

ABSTRACT Central Corneal Thickness is a measurement of the thickness of the Central portion of the cornea. It is very useful in the measurement of intraocular pressure, and therefore is very important in the detection and management of glaucoma. Refractive errors are the prominent feature of optometric care. Therefore, this study attempts to establish the presence of a relationship, and the degree of such a relationship in the event of it's existence. This study was carried out among 150 healthy young adults with 86 of the subjects being females and 64 of the subjects males in the Abia State University Eye Clinic between March and October 2022. The subjects were determined to be free of pathological condition by means of external examination with the penlight and internal examination using the opthalmoscope. The Refractive status was determined objectively using the retinoscope and subjectively using the phoropter and trial frame set. The central corneal thickness was measured using the handheld iPac pachymeter. The average refractive error in myopes was -2.00DS and the average in hyperopes was +2.25DS. The mean CCT in Emmetropes was 552.84 and 552.84 in the right eyes [OD] and the left eyes [OS] respectively, the mean CCT in myopes was 553.04 and 553.07 in the right eyes [OD] and the left eyes [OS] respectively while the mean CCT in hyperopes was 551.46 and 551.65 in the right eyes [OD] and the left eyes [OS] respectively. Analysis was done with the means of tables, statistical method of testing used was Chi-square test, bar chart and line graph. The test discovered no significant difference between CCT and