Abstract
Purpose::
To evaluate the gender differences in the anterior segment morphology in Japanese normal subjects measured by a rotating Scheimpflug camera (Pentacam; Oculus Inc., Lynnwood, WA, USA)
Methods::
A total of 501 normal subjects (222 females and 279 males; mean age: 47.9 ± 14.3 years) who visited Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine from March 2005 to October 2006 were enrolled. All the subjects were confirmed to be normal by glaucoma specialists, using FDT screening N-30 (Carl Zeiss Meditec, Inc.) and non-mydriatic optic disc photographs. After measuring with the Pentacam, the right eyes were chosen for the further statistical analysis (Mann-Whitney U test, Spearman’s correlation coefficient by rank test). Mean central corneal thickness (CCT), anterior chamber volume (ACV), anterior chamber depth (ACD), and anterior chamber angle (ACA) were calculated and compared between females and males. The relationship between the age and each value obtained by the Pentacam was also evaluated by linear regression analysis.
Results::
There were no significant differences in age between the two groups. Mean CCT, ACV, ACD, and ACA in female vs. male group were 542.1 ± 32.1 vs. 550.0±32.6 micrometer, 157.8±52.8 vs. 181.5±50.2 mm2, 2.8±0.4 vs. 3.1±0.6 mm, 34.8±7.4 vs. 37.8±6.4 degree, respectively. All the measured values (CCT, ACV, ACD, and ACA) showed a significant difference between the female and male groups, showing that the female group displays much thinner corneas and narrower angles than the male group. CCT showed no changes with age in both groups. Anterior segments of the female eyes showed much larger changes with age than those of the male eyes.
Conclusions::
There were significant differences between genders in relation to anterior segment morphology in Japanese normal subjects.
Keywords: anterior segment • anterior chamber • aging