Association of Birth Weight with Central and Peripheral Corneal Thickness in Adulthood—Results from the Population-Based German Gutenberg Health Study
Achim Fieß,
Michael S. Urschitz,
Susanne Marx-Groß,
Markus Nagler,
Philipp S. Wild,
Thomas Münzel,
Manfred E. Beutel,
Karl J. Lackner,
Norbert Pfeiffer,
Alexander K. Schuster
Affiliations
Achim Fieß
Department of Ophthalmology, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, 55131 Mainz, Germany
Michael S. Urschitz
Division of Pediatric Epidemiology, Institute for Medical Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Informatics, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, 55131 Mainz, Germany
Susanne Marx-Groß
Department of Ophthalmology, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, 55131 Mainz, Germany
Markus Nagler
Preventive Cardiology and Preventive Medicine, Center for Cardiology, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, 55131 Mainz, Germany
Philipp S. Wild
Preventive Cardiology and Preventive Medicine, Center for Cardiology, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, 55131 Mainz, Germany
Thomas Münzel
Center for Cardiology—Cardiology I, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, 55131 Mainz, Germany
Manfred E. Beutel
Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, 55131 Mainz, Germany
Karl J. Lackner
Institute of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, 55131 Mainz, Germany
Norbert Pfeiffer
Department of Ophthalmology, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, 55131 Mainz, Germany
Alexander K. Schuster
Department of Ophthalmology, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, 55131 Mainz, Germany
Purpose: Low birth weight (BW) is associated with altered ocular geometry such as a steeper corneal shape in adulthood. However, it is unclear whether low birth weight affects corneal thickness development in the center or periphery in adulthood which may contribute to ocular disease. The purpose of this study was to investigate corneal thickness in former low birth weight individuals in adulthood. Methods: The German Gutenberg Health Study is a prospective, population-based study in which every participant (age range 40–80 years) was measured with Scheimpflug imaging (Pentacam HR, Oculus Optikgeräte GmbH, Wetzlar, Germany). BW was collected by self-reports. The relationship between birth weight and corneal thickness at different locations were assessed. Linear regression models were carried out including uni- and multivariable analyses with adjustment for age, sex, mean corneal radius, and white-to-white distance. Main outcome measures were corneal thickness at the apex, at the pupil center, and at the corneal periphery. Results: Overall, 5657 participants were successfully measured (3019 females, aged 56.0 ± 10.3 years). In multivariable analyses a lower BW was associated with a thinner corneal thickness at the apex (B = 1.71 µm/500 g, p p Conclusion: The present study provides evidence that lower birth weight goes along with corneal thickness alterations even into adult ages of 40 to 80 years. Thinner measurements of the cornea were particularly found in the corneal center and diminished in the periphery. This indicates that there may be fetal origins affecting corneal thickness development particularly in the corneal center.
