Associations of ocular anterior segment structures with sex and age: the Yamagata study (Funagata).

Purpose: To investigate the associations of tomographic parameters in anterior segment optical coherence tomography (AS-OCT) with sex and age in a cohort study.

Study design: A cohort design.

Materials and methods: AS-OCT data from 391 Japanese participants aged ≥ 35 years were obtained using swept-source OCT. In the cornea, the keratometric power at the flat (Kf) and steep (Ks) meridians, maximum keratometric power (Kmax), keratometric cylinder, spherical power, regular astigmatism, asymmetry, higher-order irregularity (HOI) from the anterior and posterior surfaces, and the central and thinnest corneal thicknesses were evaluated. Also, anterior chamber depth (ACD), lens thickness, crystalline lens rise (CLR), and nasal and temporal angle opening distances at 500 μm from the scleral spur (AOD500) were assessed. Sex differences and age-related changes were analyzed.

Results: Women exhibited higher anterior Kf, Ks, and Kmax and lower posterior Kf, Ks, and Kmax than men. The ACD and nasal/temporal AOD500 were shorter in women than in men. The CLR was higher in women, whereas the lens thickness did not differ between the sexes, indicating a more anteriorly positioned lens in women. Age-related changes included increased anterior/posterior HOI, increased lens thickness and CLR resulting in decreased ACD and AOD500.

Conclusion: This study reveals sex-related differences in corneal shape, anterior chamber conformation, and lens position, as well as age-related changes in tomographic parameters. ACD, CLR, nasal and temporal AOD500 showed significant sex differences in the 50-70 s, whereas lens thickness showed no difference.