Age-related changes in biomechanical parameters of the cornea and intraocular pressure in a healthy Turkish population

Background/aim: To investigate age-related changes in intraocular pressure (IOP) and biomechanical parameters of the cornea in healthy subjects. Materials and methods: There were 404 healthy subjects included prospectively in this study. The subjects were divided into 3 groups (Group 1: 93 subjects aged <18, Group 2: 189 subjects aged between 18 and 59, and Group 3: 122 subjects aged >= 60). Corneal compensated IOP (IOPcc), Goldmann correlated IOP (IOPg), corneal hysteresis (CH), and corneal resistance factor (CRF) were measured by the Ocular Response Analyzer. Results: When all the study groups were evaluated, a moderately significant negative correlation was found between age and CH and between age and CRF (Spearman's rho = -0.372 and -0.353, respectively; P < 0.0001 for both correlations). There were significant age-related differences among the 3 groups in terms of IOPg, CH, CRF, and central corneal thickness (P = 0.002, P = 0.000, P = 0.000, P = 0.006). There was no confirmation of any difference of IOPcc among the groups (P = 0.427). Conclusion: The mean values of IOPg, CH, and CRF were lower than the other parameters in Group 3 but no significant differences were determined in IOPcc values in the age groups.