Quantified Values of Anterior Segment in Normal Adult Koreans Using Ultrasound Biomicroscopy

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To establish quantified values for anterior segment of normal adult Koreans using ultrasound biomicroscopy (UBM) in relation to age and sex. METHODS: Anterior segment images were obtained in 114 normal Koreans (54 males and 60 females) using UBM. Six different parameters (central corneal thickness, anterior chamber depth, scleral thickness, trabeculariris distance, angle-opening distance 500 and anterior chamber angle) were measured by the same examiner in central chamber image and angle image. Among the parameters, anterior chamber depth was compared with that measured by A-scan. RESULTS: Average central corneal thickness was 495.2 +/- 29.6 micro meter in male and 488.8 +/- 20.6 micro meter in female, anterior chamber depth 2.997 +/- 0.297 mm in male and 2.763 +/- 0.314 mm in female, anterior chamber angle 38.86 +/- 3.62 degrees in male and 36.01 +/- 3.23 degrees in female and angle-opening distance 500 316.2 +/- 52.4 micro meter in male and 290.9 +/- 54.4 micro meter in female, respectively. Anterior chamber depth, anterior chamber angle, trabecular-iris distance and angle-opening distance 500 were smaller in female than male. Anterior chamber depth showed a significant decrease in relation to age in male and female. Values of anterior chamber depth were statistically significantly correlated between UBM and A-scan. CONCLUSIONS: Quantified values were established for anterior segment using UBM in normal adult Koreans. In the future, they will be useful in evaluating the anterior segment structures and diseases.