May 2006
Volume 47, Issue 13
Free
ARVO Annual Meeting Abstract  |   May 2006
The Heritability of the Interpupillary Distance
J.B. Ruddle; A.W. Hewitt; L.S. Kearns; J.R. MacKinnon; S.A. Brown; N.G. Martin; D.A. Mackey
Author Affiliations & Notes
  • J.B. Ruddle
    Clinical Genetics Unit, Eye Research Australia, East Melbourne, Australia
    Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital, Melbourne, Australia
  • A.W. Hewitt
    Ophthalmology, Flinders University, Adelaide, Australia
  • L.S. Kearns
    Clinical Genetics Unit, Eye Research Australia, East Melbourne, Australia
    Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital, Melbourne, Australia
  • J.R. MacKinnon
    Department of Ophthalmology, Royal Hospital for Sick Children, Yorkhill, Glasgow, United Kingdom
  • S.A. Brown
    Menzies Institute, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Australia
  • N.G. Martin
    Genetic Epidemiology, Queensland Institute of Medical Research, Brisbane, Australia
  • D.A. Mackey
    Clinical Genetics Unit, Eye Research Australia, East Melbourne, Australia
    Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital, Melbourne, Australia
  • Footnotes
    Commercial Relationships  J.B. Ruddle, None; A.W. Hewitt, None; L.S. Kearns, None; J.R. MacKinnon, None; S.A. Brown, None; N.G. Martin, None; D.A. Mackey, Pfizer Australia Grant, F.
  • Footnotes
    Support  NHMRC Grant 350415, ORIA, Clifford Craig Medical Research Trust, American Health Assistance Foundation
Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science May 2006, Vol.47, 5822. doi:
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      J.B. Ruddle, A.W. Hewitt, L.S. Kearns, J.R. MacKinnon, S.A. Brown, N.G. Martin, D.A. Mackey; The Heritability of the Interpupillary Distance . Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci. 2006;47(13):5822.

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Abstract

Purpose: : A classic twin study was performed to determine the heritability of interpupillary distance (IPD).

Methods: : The concordance of IPD between monozygotic (MZ) and dizygotic (DZ) twins was compared. A total of 316 twin pairs (102 MZ and 214 DZ) were recruited from two centres: The Twin Eye Study in Tasmania and the Brisbane Adolescent Twin Study. As part of an extensive ophthalmic evaluation, IPD was measured by Humphrey–598 autorefractor during precycloplegic and post cycloplegic refractions. Structural equation modelling with the Mx program was used to determine the heritability of IPD.

Results: : The mean +/– SD age of subjects was 25.9 +/– 14.5 years. The mean +/– SD IPD of all eyes examined was 60.1 +/– 3.8 mm. Suggesting a strong genetic influence, the IPD measurements correlated more highly in MZ twins than in DZ twins, with intraclass correlation coefficients of 0.75 and 0.48 respectively. A model of additive genetic and unique environmental effects provided the best fit, yielding a heritability of 61.9% (95% confidence interval: 50.3% – 71.0%) with the remaining variation being attributable to unique environmental factors.

Conclusions: : In this study of Australian twins, genetic factors were shown to be of major importance in IPD, with a heritability of 62%.

Keywords: binocular vision/stereopsis • strabismus: etiology • pupil 
© 2006, The Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology, Inc., all rights reserved. Permission to republish any abstract or part of an abstract in any form must be obtained in writing from the ARVO Office prior to publication.
Copyright © 2025 Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology.
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