Falsely elevated intraocular pressure due to increased central corneal thickness

PURPOSE: To evaluate whether ocular hypertensive subjects have a higher central corneal thickness than other individuals. METHODS: In this prospective study, 48 subjects with ocular hypertension, 63 patients with open-angle glaucoma, 56 nonglaucomatous patients with diabetes mellitus, and 106 control subjects were evaluated. Corneal thickness was measured by ultrasound pachymetry, and intraocular pressure was determined by Goldmann applanation tonometry. RESULTS: Central corneal thickness was significantly higher in the ocular hypertensive subjects, mean +/- S.D., 592+/-39 microm, than in the patients with glaucoma (536+/-34 microm), the nonglaucomatous patients with diabetes mellitus (550+…