Evaluation of Sex Differences in Corneal Hysteresis

Abstract

Purpose

To study sex differences in corneal biomechanical parameters in Egypt as regards to corneal hysteresis (CH), corneal resistance factor (CRF), Goldmann-correlated intraocular pressure (IOP_g), and corneal-compensated intraocular pressure (IOP_cc).

Methods

This is a cross-sectional observational study that includes 350 eyes of 350 normal subjects (175 men and 175 women) who were evaluated using the Reichert ocular response analyzer (ORA) to measure CH, CRF, IOP_g, and IOP_cc.

Results

The mean CH in men was 9.69 ± 2.05 mm Hg (range 5.7–14.6 mm Hg) and in women 10.41 ± 1.65 mm Hg (range 7–14.4 mm Hg) with a p value of 0.00038. The mean CRF in men was 9.54 ± 2.16 mm Hg (range 4.9–14.4 mm Hg) and in women was 10.37 ± 1.71 mm Hg (range 7.3–15.5 mm Hg) with a p value of 0.00008. The mean IOP_g in men was 14.78 ± 4.15 mm Hg (range 7.2–26.5 mm Hg) and in women was 15.44 ± 3.3 mm Hg (range 8.6–23.7 mm Hg) with a p value of 0.09. The mean IOP_cc in men was 16.2 ± 4.08 mm Hg (range 10.9–28.9 mm Hg) and in women was 15.86 ± 3.41 (range 9.7–24.2 mm Hg) with a p value of 0.4. There was a statistically significant difference between men and women in CH and CRF while IOP_g and IOP_cc showed no statistically significant difference (p>0.05).

Conclusions

There is a statistically significant difference between men and women in CH and CRF, where women show higher values, while no statistically significant difference exists between the groups in IOP_g or IOP_cc.