Age- and Gender-Related Biometric Changes in Normal Eyes

Objective: To investigate the age- and gender-related changes in ocular biometric data in normal eyes. Material and Methods: This randomized prospective study was conducted on 160 volunteers with no ocular pathology. A-scan biometric measurements including anterior chamber depth, lens thickness, vitreous length, and total axial length were assessed in only one eye for each subject having a spherical equivalent in the range of -0.75 D to +0.75 D. The study subjects were divided into eight age groups. There were 20 subjects in each group (10 males and 10 females). Results: Negative correlations were found between age and anterior chamber depth in both genders (Male, r=-0.450, p<0.001; Female, r=0.583, p<0.001). Older individuals had smaller anterior chamber depths. There were high positive correlations between age and lens thickness in both sexes (Male, r=0.593, p<0.001; Female, r=0.382, p<0.001). Older individuals had thicker lenses. We did not detect an age-related difference in vitreous length and total axial length. When each group was compared separately, we found no gender-related difference in age groups. Anterior chamber depth was significantly deeper in males when all male and female subjects were compared (p<0.05). Conclusion: Anterior chamber depth and lens thickness significantly change with advancing age in normal eyes, while vitreous length and total axial length do not change by age. The age-related ocular biometric changes are the same in both genders.