DIFFERENCE IN CENTRAL CORNEAL THICKNESSES IN I-TAUKEI AND FIJIANS OF INDIAN DESCENT : AN INDICATOR BASELINE STUDY AT THE PACIFIC EYE INSTITUTE JUNE – JULY 2019

Introduction: There is no ethnicity-appropriate data available in Fiji for central corneal thickness at present. This is important because previous studies have shown that ethnicty has an effect on central corneal thickness. and thus on prevalence of glaucoma which can be blinding. This study aims to obtain the average central corneal thickness in the two main ethnicities in Fiji and also to see if there is any difference between the CCT within the two ethnicities, the two genders and also whether there is any difference with CCT with age progression. It also tries to find any association between the IOP and the CCT in the two ethnicities.
Method(s): This is a cross-sectional observational multi-variate study. The study population consisted of 224 participants, with equal numbers of both gender and the two ethnicties of interest, stratified into 3 age groups. The data was analysed with Microsoft Excel and GraphPad.
Results: Within the total population, the females were noted to be having greater average CCT (522.5) and also IOP 14.9) compared to males (516.9 and 14.6). Within the ethnic groups, the FID were noted to be having greater CCT (526.5)and IOP (15.4) compared to the i-Taukei (512.4 and 13.6). Wthin the i-Taukei group, the males’ CCT was greater than the females but within the FID group, the females’ CCT was noted to be greater than the males’ CCT. Within the females, the FID females had greater CCT than the i-Taukei females and within the males, the FID males had greater CCT than the i-Taukei males.
A positive and consistent correlation was discovered between CCT and IOP within the total population, and also within the ethnic groups and the gender groups. A consistent reduction in CCT was also discovered with age.
Conclusion: This study correlated with findings from other similar studies which demonstrated that central corneal thickness does correlate with ethnicty. However, the study was limited by the smaller population size selected and the fact that there are other ethnicities in Fiji, apart from the two studied, albeit in minority form. For this reason, it is recommended that a larger, population-based study be conducted which takes into account
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other ethnic groups. Until this is done, though, the results of this study can very well be utilised as a baseline reference to create a normogram.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
I would like to acknowledge the following people who have contributed to the successful completion of this research project.
• My supervisor and co-supervisors – Dr. Ansari, Dr. Qalo and Ms. Rokoduru
• The Colonial War Memorial Hospital and the Ministry of Health and Medical Sciences for use of facilities and data
• The Pacific Eye Institute for use of equipment
• Ms. Nirma Lakhan
• Ms. Sharon Biribo
• Dr. Donald Wilson
• Various colleagues who have referred potentially suitable participants for screening
• The participants in the study
• My