Comparison in conjunctival-Tenon's capsule thickness, anterior scleral thickness and ciliary muscle dimensions between Caucasians and Hispanic by optical coherence tomography.

Abstract

To investigate the differences in the dimensions of the anterior ocular segment, and specifically in conjunctival-Tenon's capsule thickness (CTT), anterior scleral thickness (AST) and ciliary muscle thickness (CMT), between Caucasian and Hispanic subjects using swept-source optical coherence tomography (SS-OCT). Cross-sectional study including 53 Hispanic and 60 Caucasian healthy participants, matched by age, sex and refractive error, who underwent a complete ophthalmological examination. CTT, AST and CMT were manually measured in the temporal and nasal quadrants at 0, 1, 2 and 3mm from the scleral spur using SS-OCT. Mean age and refractive error were 38.7 ± 12.3years and -1.05 ± 2.6 diopters, and 41.8 ± 11.7years and -0.50 ± 2.6 diopters for the Hispanic and Caucasians, respectively (p = 0.165 and p = 0.244). The CTT was increased in the temporal quadrant in the Hispanic group in the three studied regions (CTT1, CTT2 and CTT3; being the means 223.0 ± 68.4, 215.3 ± 66.4 and 203.8 ± 67.1µm versus 190.8 ± 51.0, 189.4 ± 53.2 and 187.4 ± 55.3µm respectively; p < 0.001). Larger AST values were observed in the temporal quadrant in the Hispanic group (AST2: 559.8 ± 80.8µm and AST3: 591.6 ± 83.0µm) compared to the Caucasian group (520.7 ± 50.1 and 558.9 ± 54.7 respectively; p ≤ 0.022). No differences were observed in the nasal quadrant for CTT, AST1 and AST3 (p ≥ 0.076). No differences emerged in the CM dimensions (p ≥ 0.055). CTT and AST measurements were thicker in the temporal quadrant of Hispanic patients compared to Caucasians. This could have implications for the pathogenesis of different ocular diseases.