Axial length and optic disc size in normal eyes.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the relationship between optic disc area and axial length in normal eyes of white and black people.


METHODS
Consecutive eligible normal subjects were enrolled. Ocular biometry was obtained using A-scan ultrasonography, and reliable images of the optic disc were obtained using a confocal scanning laser ophthalmoscope. The relationship between optic disc area and axial length was assessed using univariate and multivariate models.


RESULTS
281 eyes of 281 subjects were enrolled. Black subjects (n = 157) had significantly larger discs (mean (SD) disc area, 2.12 (0.5) mm(2)) than white subjects (n = 124; 1.97 (0.6) mm(2); t test, p = 0.02). Optic disc area increased with axial length (Pearson's correlation coefficient, r = 0.13, p<0.035) for the entire study population. Multivariate regression models including race, disc area and axial length showed that a significant but weak linear relationship exists between axial length and disc area (partial correlation coefficient 0.14; p<0.024), and with race and disc area (partial correlation coefficient 0.19; p<0.017) when adjusted for the effects of other terms in the model.


CONCLUSIONS
Increased disc area is associated with longer axial length measurements and African ancestry. This may have implications for pathophysiology and risk assessment of glaucoma.
Oliveira
C
C
New York University School of Medicine, 310 East 14th Street suite 304, New York, NY 10003, USA.
Harizman
N
N
Girkin
C A
CA
Xie
A
A
Tello
C
C
Liebmann
J M
JM
Ritch
R
R
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D044383:Black People; D005123:Eye / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009887:Ophthalmoscopy / Q000379:methods; D009898:Optic Disk / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014463:Ultrasonography; D044465:White People