Comparison of anterior chamber depth of normal and keratoconus eyes using Scheimpflug photography.

OBJECTIVES

To compare the corneal anterior chamber depth (ACD) adjusted by age and sex in normal and keratoconus eyes.

METHODS

Scheimpflug photography with the Oculus Pentacam was used to measure the ACD of 162 normal and 41 keratoconus patients.

RESULTS

Univariate analysis showed that the mean ACD of 162 normal subjects (3.18 +/- 0.32 mm) was borderline significantly less than in 41 keratoconus patients (3.28 +/- 0.40 mm; P=0.079). However, we found that sex (P=0.001) and age (P<0.001) are significantly related to ACD in all patients. Women with normal eyes had a significantly lower mean ACD (3.13 +/- 0.34 mm) than men (3.27 +/- 0.28 mm, P=0.008). Women with keratoconus eyes also had a lower mean ACD (3.16 +/- 0.39 mm) than men with keratoconus (3.42 +/- 0.36 mm, P=0.032). Bivariate regression showed that with each additional year of aging, the ACD was decreased by an average of 0.012 mm in a normal eye (P<0.001) and by 0.014 mm in a keratoconus eye (P<0.001). Regression analysis showed that sex (P=0.003), age (P<0.001), and keratoconus (P=0.003) are all significant variables for determining ACD. After adjusting for age and sex, keratoconus eyes had a significantly higher mean ACD (3.34 +/- 0.34 mm) than normal eyes (3.18 +/- 0.28 mm) (P=0.003).

CONCLUSIONS

Sex, age, and keratoconus are all significant variables for ACD. After adjusting for age, keratoconus eyes of both genders had a significantly higher ACD than normal eyes of both genders. Women showed lower mean ACD than men in both normal and keratoconus eyes.