Abstract
Purpose: :
Before phakic intraocular lens implantation, the precise knowledge of the anterior chamber depth is important. The aim of this study was to obtain precise measurements of this parameter in healthy subjects and to quantify the effect of age, gender and spherical equivalent.
Methods: :
In 390 healthy Caucasian subjects, age 10-80 years (mean 41, +/- 16 years), the Orbscan II-system was used to determine the anterior chamber depth. The influence of age, gender and spherical equivalent was assessed using paired student’s t-test and Spearman rank correlation coefficients, and was quantified using linear regression.
Results: :
242 male (43 +/- 16 years) and 148 female (38 +/- 17 years) subjects were included in this study. The mean spherical equivalent was 1.3 +/- 2.0 dpt. The anterior chamber depth was 2.87 +/- 0.04 mm in the male, and 2.81+/- 0.37 in the female subjects. The differences between the genders were not significant (p > 0.12). The decline of the anterior depth occurred in a linear fashion with 0.013 mm per year. The negative correlation between age and anterior chamber depth was statistically significant (r = -0.54; p < 0.05) For risk assessment of phakic intraocular lens implantations, model calculations were used. A significant negative correlation between the anterior chamber depth and the spherical equivalent could be determined (r = -0.42; p < 0.05).
Conclusions: :
The decline of the anterior chamber depth appears to be linear with age, reaching 0.65 mm in 50 years. When using phakic intraocular lenses, this might become clinically relevant.
Keywords: aging • myopia • refractive surgery: phakic IOL