Eur J Anat, 6 (1): 13-16 (2002)

Morphometric study of the ocular anterior chamber depth with the non-contact optical IOLMasterâ?¢

Sanchis Gimeno J.A., Lleo A., Molero M.D., Alonso L., Rahhal M.S., Martinez Soriano F.

Depto. Ciencias Morfológicas, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Valencia, Av/ Blasco Ibanez, 17, E-46010 Valencia, Spain

ABSTRACT Laser interferometric biometry is a modern technique that allows us to study the eye without having to touch the ocular surface. With non-contact optical biometry, it is possible to determine the ocular anterior chamber depth values in vivo. Following on from this, we analysed ocular anterior chamber depths in a sample of healthy subjects at the Rahhal Ophthalmology Clinic and the Department of Morphological Science of the Faculty of Medicine, Valencia, Spain. To this end, we measured the ocular anterior chamber depth with the non-contact IOLMaster� (Zeiss Humphrey System, CA, USA) in 100 patients (n=100; mean age 29.15±8.18 years; 50.0% women and 50.0% men). We established three groups of patients according to cycloplegic spherical equivalent refraction: group A consisted of eyes of below -10.00 diopters; group B comprised eyes ranging between - 10.25 and - 16.00 diopters; and group C included eyes with a value equal to or higher than -16.25 diopters. Mean ocular anterior chamber depth values were 3.52±0.28 mm, 3.59±0.38 mm and 3.78±0.24 mm in groups A, B and C respectively. Differences in mean ocular anterior chamber depth among groups were significant (p=0.004). Differences in mean values between women and men were not significant in group A (p=0.613), group B (p=0.631) or Group C (p=0.065). In sum, partial coherence interferometry is an efficient anatomical tool for study of the ocular anterior chamber depth of healthy subjects. However, further research is necessary in order to detect its validity when carrying out morphometric studies on pathological eyes.

Keywords: adult, anatomy, anterior eye chamber, apparatus, article, biometry, female, human, human experiment, interferometry, laser, major clinical study, male, measurement, morphometrics, non invasive measurement, normal human, Spain