Central Corneal Thickness and Intraocular Pressure Increases With Age in Normal Holstein Cattle.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To establish the central corneal thickness (CCT) and intraocular pressure (IOP) of normal Holstein cattle and any relationship with age. METHODS: Age of 50 Holstein cattle was recorded in days. CCT was measured by ultrasonic pachymetry, and IOP values were recorded by rebound tonometry from a total of 100 eyes. CCT and IOP values were subsequently analyzed in relation to age. The animals were divided into the following two groups: calves (< 360&#x2009;days old) and adults (&#x2265; 360&#x2009;days old). RESULTS: Mean CCT value of all animals was 723.1&#x2009;&#xb1;&#x2009;75.9&#x2009;&#x3bc;m in the right eye, 714.5&#x2009;&#xb1;&#x2009;82.2&#x2009;&#x3bc;m in the left eye. Mean IOP value of 100 eyes was 25.4&#x2009;&#xb1;&#x2009;8.07&#x2009;mm/Hg in the right eye, 24&#x2009;&#xb1;&#x2009;7.89&#x2009;mm/Hg in the left eye. Mean CCT and IOP values of the animals < 360&#x2009;days old were 697.7&#x2009;&#xb1;&#x2009;8.28&#x2009;&#x3bc;m and 21.6&#x2009;&#xb1;&#x2009;0.77&#x2009;mm/Hg respectively. Mean CCT and IOP values of the animals &#x2265; 360&#x2009;days old were 768.1&#x2009;&#xb1;&#x2009;14.4&#x2009;&#x3bc;m and 31.9&#x2009;&#xb1;&#x2009;1.18&#x2009;mm/Hg, respectively. A statistically significant difference was observed between the groups in terms of CCT and IOP values (p&#x2009;<&#x2009;0.001). A positive correlation was identified between CCT and age (r&#x2009;=&#x2009;0.57, p&#x2009;<&#x2009;0.001) and between IOP and age (r&#x2009;=&#x2009;0.488, p&#x2009;<&#x2009;0.001). CONCLUSIONS: This study documents the age-related increase in both CCT and IOP values in cattle.