Ciliary body location in eyes with and without primary congenital glaucoma

Objective: To compare the location of ciliary body (CB) in children with and without primary congenital glaucoma (PCG). Methods: In this cross-sectional study, we enrolled Saudi children who were less than 5 years old. CB distance (CBD) was measured and compared in eyes with PCG (PCG group) and without PCG (control group). CBD was measured with a caliper and defined as the distance between the edge of the corneoscleral limbus and the anterior edge of CB as delineated by transillumination. The difference in the CBD between groups was correlated with the axial length, corneal thickness, and corneal diameter. Results: CBD was measured in 15 eyes in the PCG and control groups. The mean CBD (1.6 ± 0.4 mm) in the PCG group was significantly greater than that in the control group (1.3 ± 0.3 mm) (p < 0.001). The mean difference in the CBD of 2 groups was 0.33 mm (95% CI 0.15-0.54). In PCG eyes, the CBD was farthest in the superior quadrant (1.7 mm) followed by inferior (1.6 mm), temporal (1.6 mm), and nasal (1.5 mm) quadrants. The variability in CBD between quadrants in PCG eyes was greater than that in the control group. CBD in the PCG group showed a significant correlation with increasing axial length (p = 0.05), corneal thickness (p < 0.001), and corneal diameter (p = 0.0002). Conclusions: The CBD from the limbus was greater in PCG eyes compared to the controls and varied significantly in different quadrants. The knowledge regarding the greater CBD and its variability in PCG eyes could enable better planning of surgical treatment in congenital glaucoma.