Ethnic differences in lens parameters measured by ocular biometry in a cataract surgery population

Abstract

PurposeTo investigate whether differences exist in lens position and other lens parameters among major ethnic groups with cataractous eyes, which may help explain racial differences in angle closure risk.MethodsThis retrospective, cross-sectional study included 807 adult patients who had cataract surgery between years 2014 and 2016 at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF). Adult patients of white, Asian, Hispanic and African-American ethnicity were included. Lens position (LP), defined as anterior chamber depth (ACD) + 1/2 lens thickness (LT), was assessed using measurements from optical biometry. Other assessed biometric parameters included axial length (AL), relative lens position (RLP) (defined as LP/AL), and anterior chamber depth (ACD).ResultsA total of 807 patients and 1361 eyes were included in this study from a database of patients having cataract surgery. Mean age was 69.2 years (age range from 18 to 101 years old), and 60.3% of patients were women. The mean LP measurements were 5.54±0.32 mm for white, 5.38±0.32 mm for Asian, 5.32±0.30 mm for Hispanic, and 5.40±0.28 mm for African-American participants. After adjusting for age, sex, and AL, significant differences were found when comparing LP in paired comparisons among White cohort with Asians (P<0.001), Hispanics (P<0.001) and African-Americans (P = 0.003). Additionally, when comparing RLP, similar significant results were found when comparing Whites with Asians (P<0.001), Hispanics (P<0.001) and African-Americans (P = 0.002). Lastly, pair-wise comparison of LT between ethnic groups showed significant differences while comparing Asians with Whites (P = 0.001) and Asians with African-Americans (P<0.001).ConclusionThe results of this study suggest that the LP of Hispanic, Asian, and African-American patients are significantly smaller than that of White patients, and among all ethnic groups, Hispanics and after Asians have the smallest LP (P<0.001) and RLP (P<0.001). These findings may have implications for the relative risk of angle closure and the potential IOP response after cataract surgery among different ethnic groups.

<p>Ocular Biometry and Their Correlations with Ocular and Anthropometric Measurements Among Ethiopian Adults</p>

“…In the study among black south Africans, the mean LT was 3.69 (± 0.25) mm while a study comparing ethnic differences in lens parameters found the average measurements in whites 4.52 (0.46) mm, African American 4.48 (±0.54) mm, Asians 4.60 (±0.46) mm, and Hispanics 4.53 (±0.44) mm. 21 In our study, age, height, and BMI have a significant association in the univariable analysis but only age ( p -value <0.001) persisted after adjustment. This is in keeping with other studies.…”

Clinical Evaluation of a New Swept-Source Optical Coherence Biometer That Uses Individual Refractive Indices to Measure Axial Length in Cataract Patients

“…The thickness of the crystalline lens varies depending on age and race [10, 11], so measured axial length values in the same eye may differ between measurements made using the individual refractive indices and those made using the equivalent refractive index; the error of the intraocular lens (IOL) power calculation may also show discrepancy between the two biometers.…”

Changes in corneal thickness and corneal endothelial cell density after phacoemulsification cataract surgery: a double-blind randomized trial

“…Considering the wide prevalence of cataract and cataract–related blindness in developing countries and, specifically, in Iran ( 19 ), and with a rapidly aging population, this problem is predicted to multiply in future. The ethnic differences in ocular parameters have suggested that the surgical outcome of cataract surgery may be different in different ethnicities/races ( 20 , 21 ), while to the best of our knowledge, there are few studies in our country investigating the post-operative complications of cataract surgery ( 22 ). Considering the increased cataract surgical rate in our country from about 2.5 times from 526 to 1,331 per million over five years (2000–2005) ( 23 ), it is necessary to determine the surgical outcome of cataract surgery in Iranian patients.…”