title: The distribution of axial length, anterior chamber depth, lens thickness, and vitreous chamber depth in an adult population of Shahroud, Iran.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Ocular biometric parameters can be influenced by race, ethnicity, and genetics; their differences across different populations can probably explain differences in refractive errors in these populations. The aim of this study is to determine the normal range of axial length, anterior chamber depth, lens thickness, and vitreous chamber depth in the population of Shahroud in the north of Iran.
  
  
  METHODS
  In the first phase of Shahroud Eye Cohort Study, the 40-64 year old population were sampled cross-sectionally; 6311 were invited and 5190 (82.2%) participated in the study. Biometric examinations were done using the LENSTAR/BioGraph (WaveLight AG, Erlangen, Germany) after vision tests and before cycloplegic refraction tests. Any type of eye surgery, extensive pterygium, and lack of cooperation were used as exclusion criteria, and analyses were done with data from 4869 eyes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We found a mean axial length of 23.14 mm (95% confidence interval [CI], 23.11-23.17), mean anterior chamber depth of 2.62 mm (95% CI, 2.60-2.63), mean lens thickness of 4.28 mm (95% CI, 4.27-4.29), and the mean vitreous chamber depth was 15.72 mm (95% CI, 15.70-15.75).Kolmogorov-Smirnov tests showed that the distribution of axial length, anterior chamber depth, lens thickness, and vitreous chamber depth significantly differed from normal; axial length and vitreous chamber depth demonstrated a leptokurtic distribution as well.Axial length, anterior chamber depth, and vitreous chamber depth significantly decreased with age, and lens thickness significantly increased with age (p < 0.001). All indices were significantly higher in men.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The distributions of axial length, vitreous chamber depth, and lens thickness are reported for the first time in an Iranian adult population. Compared to other studies, axial length was in the mid range, nonetheless, studying axial length components showed that the Iranian population had smaller anterior chamber depth and lens thickness. Age and gender were significantly associated with all indices assessed in this study.
authors.affiliation: Noor Ophthalmology Research Center, Noor Eye Hospital, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Hassan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hashemi
authors.forename: Mehdi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Khabazkhoob
authors.forename: Mohammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Miraftab
authors.forename: Mohammad Hassan
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Emamian
authors.forename: Mohammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shariati
authors.forename: Tahereh
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Abdolahinia
authors.forename: Akbar
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fotouhi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000867:Anterior Chamber / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D058452:Axial Length, Eye / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007492:Iran / Q000453:epidemiology; D007908:Lens, Crystalline / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012030:Refractive Errors / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014822:Vitreous Body / Q000033:anatomy & histology*