Association of age, stature, and education with ocular dimensions in an older white population

To describe ocular biometry relationships in older white adults.

Ocular dimensions were measured with partial coherence laser interferometry in 1968 persons (aged 58-100 years, 59% female) seen at the fourth examination of the Beaver Dam Eye Study. Generalized estimating equations-modeled associations of age, sex, height, and education with ocular dimensions: axial length, corneal curvature radius, and anterior chamber depth.

The mean axial length was 23.69 mm; mean corneal curvature radius was 7.70 mm; and mean anterior chamber depth was 3.11 mm. Participants younger than 65 years had larger eyes (longer axial length, greater corneal curvature radius, and deeper anterior chamber depth) than persons aged 75 years or older. Mean axial length was 23.86 mm, 23.66 mm, and 23.55 mm in people aged 64 years and younger, 65 to 74 years, and 75 years or older, respectively. Generally, larger eyes were observed in men (vs women) and in taller (>178 vs 16 vs <12 years) persons. Adjustment for height accounted for all sex differences. Age differences in axial length were attenuated (P = .06) after adjustment for both height and education.

In this older white population, age and sex variations in ocular dimensions are partially explained by differences in stature and education.