The Survey Of Limbal Anterior Chamber Depth In A Population Of Routine Health Examination

Subjects and methods: All subjects having a routine health examination in Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital between Nov. 19, 2003 and Apr. 29, 2004 were included in this study, including 3978 persons(7956 eyes). Each subject underwent the following investigations: visual acuity, slit lamp examination and slit-lamp assessment of anterior chamber depth according to the Van Herick grading method involved assessment of the limbal anterior chamber depth as a fraction of the corneal thickness(CT). Enrolled patients whose limbal chamber depth were less than or equal to l/2CT(Van Herrick Grades 2, lor Slit) were examined by non-contact tonometry, A ultrasound scan, examination of refraction and gonioscopy.Results: 633 eyes(7.96%) were termed Van Herrick Grades 3, 2, 1 or Slit, which were 42.52 - 61.65 years old(95% confidenceinterval).Actually, 430 eyes were examined. The prevalence of shallow anterior chamber increased significantly with age using chi-squaretest(P<0.001). Axial oculi(r=0.161, P=0.001) and axial anterior chamber depth(r=0.278, P<0.001 )linearly increased with limbal anterior chamber depth. Just the contrary, diopter (r=-0.114, P=0.018) decreased linearly with limbal anterior chamber depth. 26 of 430 eyes were occludable angle(6.05%).Conclusion: The limbal anterior chamber depth changes shallower with the age, especially 40 years of aged or older, which is significantly related to axial oculi and axial anterior chamber depth and inversely related to diopter. Shallow limbal anterior chamber is more common in females.