Central corneal thickness and development of glaucomatous optic disk hemorrhages

PURPOSE: To evaluate whether central corneal thickness influences the development of optic disk hemorrhages in chronic open-angle glaucoma. DESIGN: Prospective observational clinical study. METHODS: The study included 390 eyes of 223 white subjects with chronic open-angle glaucoma observed during a mean follow-up time of 61.3 ± 36.4 months. Central corneal thickness was measured by corneal pachymetry. RESULTS: The event of optic disk hemorrhages during follow-up was detected in 63 eyes (16.2%). Development of optic disk hemorrhages was, univariately (P = .73) as well as in a multiple Cox regression analysis, controlling for age, sex, normal tension glaucoma, intraocular pressure, neuroretinal rim area, and size of beta zone of peripapillary atrophy, statistically independent (P = .56) of central corneal thickness. CONCLUSIONS: Development of optic disk hemorrhages may not be markedly influenced by central corneal thickness.