Comparison of Bruch's Membrane Opening Minimum Rim Width Among Those With Normal Ocular Health by Race

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Medical Imaging
• Glaucoma Research

Background:

• Bruch's membrane opening minimum rim width (BMO-MRW) is a key glaucoma metric.
• Spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SDOCT) enables precise BMO-MRW measurement.
• Understanding racial variations in BMO-MRW is crucial for accurate glaucoma diagnosis.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate potential racial disparities in BMO-MRW between individuals of African descent (AD) and European descent (ED).
• To assess if race-specific normative data are required for BMO-MRW interpretation in AD populations.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study involving 269 eyes from 148 participants at risk for glaucoma.
• SDOCT imaging of the optic nerve head was performed.
• Global and regional BMO-MRW were analyzed and compared between racial groups, adjusting for age, sex, and BMO area.

Main Results:

• No statistically significant difference in global BMO-MRW was observed between AD and ED individuals after adjusting for covariates.
• While crude regional differences were noted, they did not remain significant in the adjusted analysis.
• Mean global BMO-MRW decreased with increasing age.

Conclusions:

• BMO-MRW measurements did not show statistically significant differences based on race in this cohort.
• The findings indicate that race-specific normative data for BMO-MRW may not be necessary for clinical application in AD patients.
• This study contributes to the standardization of glaucoma assessment tools across diverse populations.