The Iris Thickness in a Healthy Saudi Population

Purpose Iris thickness (IT), a known risk factor for angle closure glaucoma, has not been evaluated in the normal Saudi population. Methods Quantitative information on IT was evaluated in healthy Saudi eyes using anterior segment optical coherence tomography (ASOCT). IT and iris volume was measured with the room 'light on' (LON) and 'light off' (LOFF) using Image J software. IT in the nasal and temporal iris was measured at 500 µm (IT500) and 750 µm (IT750) from the scleral spur (SS). Differences in IT measurements by age, gender and type of refractive error were evaluated. Results We included 100 eyes of 50 healthy adult Saudis without ocular disease other than refractive errors. The mean age of 56 males and 44 females in the study group was 41.7 ± 14.5 years. The refractive status was as follows: emmetropia (35 eyes), mild/moderate myopia (33 eyes), high myopia (17 eyes) and hyperopia (15 eyes). The IT750 with LON was significantly more than IT500 both nasally (P = 0.03) and temporally (P < 0.001). The difference in IT750 and IT500 with LOFF was significantly more nasally (P = 0.03), temporally (P = 0.02), and with LON nasally (P = 0.005). IT was thicker in males when compared to females and variation of IT by refractive error was significant but not by age. The mean pupil diameter and anterior chamber depth decreased with age (P < 0.001). Anterior chamber width was not affected by age or illumination. Conclusion The baseline iris thickness in the Saudi eyes could be used to compare iris thickness in eyes with angle closure glaucoma among the Arab population.