Oculopalpebral dimensions of adult Nigerians: report from the Enugu normative ocular anthropometry study.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the normal oculopalpebral anthropometric measurements of a Nigerian adult population.


METHODS
A population-based prospective observational random survey was conducted in Enugu, South-Eastern Nigeria between January and April 2010. The participants were healthy adults comprising 248 males and 252 females aged 18-76 years. One thousand eyes were examined. Demographic data, and bilateral direct manual millimetre measurements of the horizontal palpebral fissure (HPF), vertical palpebral fissure (VPF), upper lid crease (ULC), brow height (BH), and margin reflex distance (MRD) were obtained from all participants. Data were categorised by demographic variables and analysed to yield frequencies, percentages and proportions. Between-gender comparisons, using the independent t test, were considered significant at p < 0.05.


RESULTS
The mean age of the participants was 36.5 ± 14.6 years. There was no significant difference between the genders in mean age (men: 37.3 ± 15.7 vs. women: 35.8 ± 13.3, p = 0.2302). The mean values of the parameters were (male, female) HPF: 32.8 ± 2.0 vs. 32.6 ± 3.0; VPF: 10.6 ± 1.2 vs. 10.6 ± 1.2; ULC: 8.2 ± 2.5 vs. 7.9 ± 2.2; BH: 13.1 ± 2.4 vs. 13.6 ± 2.7; and MRD: 4.1 ± 0.5 vs. 4.2 ± 0.8. Significant between-gender difference was observed only in BH measurements (p = 0.029) and variable trends with age.


CONCLUSIONS
Oculopalpebral measurements of normal adult Nigerians in Enugu showed variations by age and gender. This may have implications for clinical evaluation and surgical management of oculopalpebral disorders in adult South-Eastern Nigerians. Future longitudinal studies are needed.
Department of Ophthalmology, University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH), Ituku-Ozalla, Enugu, Nigeria. xy3165767@yahoo.com
Boniface I
BI
Eze
Judith N
JN
Uche
Jude O
JO
Shiweobi
Chibuike N
CN
Mba
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000886:Anthropometry; D005123:Eye / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D005143:Eyelids / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009549:Nigeria; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012737:Sex Factors; D055815:Young Adult