PLS were present in about 1.8% (2.4% females, 0.7% males) of our black population, and they were frequently associated with other signs of intraocular pigment dispersion. Age, female gender, and refractive error were significant predictors for PLS. This is new information that is helpful for understanding a clinical sign that may be an indicator of age-related pigment dispersal within the anterior segment.

Krukenberg spindles and PLS were strongly associated in our patient population, and the likelihood of both increased with increasing age. Female gender and increasing hyperopic refractive error were highly significant predictors of PLS.

ONH parameters were not related to age and refractive error, and only C/D area ratio and linear C/D ratio were greater in boys than girls in a clinical sample of African American children. These measures of normative ONH parameters and range of interocular differences may be helpful in clinical pediatric eye care to facilitate identification of African American children with abnormal optic discs.

Among our African-American group, which consisted predominately of females >50 years of age, the likelihood of PLS increased with increasing hyperopic refractive error. This finding is consistent with the possibility that PLS may, in some circumstances, indicate a significant pigment dispersal process due to iris-lens rubbing that may be associated with crowding of anterior segment structures. Additional study is warranted to further assess the nature of PLS, their precise relationship with an age-related pigment dispersal process, and their true significance as a risk factor for development of glaucoma.

Purpose To investigate anterior chamber depth (ACD), lens thickness (LT), vitreous body length (VBL), and axial length (AL) in African-American females with long anterior zonules (LAZ) while controlling for refractive error. Methods The eyes of 50 African-American females with LAZ were compared to 50 controls matched on age, race, sex, and refractive error. Central ACD, LT, VBL, and AL measurements were obtained in a masked fashion using a-scan ultrasonography. Results LAZ cases had a mean age ± SD (range) = 67.1 ± 7.6 years (52–85 years) and a mean refractive error = +1.85 ± 1.41D (−1.75 to +4.75D). Parameters were similar for controls. Mean ACD for cases was 2.45 ± 0.34 mm and 2.57 ± 0.38 mm for controls. Mean LT for cases was 4.94 ± 0.43 mm and 4.83 ± 0.45 mm for controls. Mean VBL for cases was 15.00 ± 0.72 mm and 15.17 ± 0.76 mm for controls. Mean AL for cases was 22.39 ± 0.82 mm and 22.57 ± 0.76 mm for controls. Using multiple logistic regression to control for any residual differences in age and refractive error, no significant differences were present between LAZ eyes and control eyes relative to the a-scan variables (P>0.1). Conclusions When refractive error was controlled for, this group of African-American females with LAZ did not exhibit clinically significant differences in ACD, LT, VBL, and AL as compared to controls.