title: Metrics of the normal anterior sclera: imaging with optical coherence tomography.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  To investigate anterior scleral thickness in a cohort of healthy subjects using enhanced depth imaging anterior segment optical coherence tomography.
  
  
  METHODS
  Observational case series. The mean scleral thickness in the inferonasal, inferotemporal, superotemporal, and superonasal quadrant was measured 2 mm from the scleral spur on optical coherence tomography in healthy volunteers.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fifty-three eyes of 53 Caucasian patients (25 male and 28 female) with an average age of 48.6 years (range: 18 to 92 years) were analysed. The mean scleral thickness was 571 μm (SD 84 μm) in the inferonasal quadrant, 511 μm (SD 80 μm) in the inferotemporal quadrant, 475 (SD 81 μm) in the superotemporal, and 463 (SD 64 μm) in the superonasal quadrant. The mean scleral thickness was significantly different between quadrants (p < 0.0001, repeated measures one-way ANOVA). The association between average scleral thickness and age was statistically significant (p < 0.0001, Pearson r = 0.704).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Enhanced depth imaging optical coherence tomography revealed the detailed anatomy of the anterior sclera and enabled non-invasive measurements of scleral thickness in a non-contact approach. The anterior scleral thickness varies significantly between quadrants, resembling the spiral of Tillaux. An association of increasing scleral thickness with age was found.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, and University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland, ebneter.andreas@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ebneter
authors.forename: Nathanael U
authors.initials: NU
authors.lastname: Häner
authors.forename: Martin S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Zinkernagel
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology; D000869:Anterior Eye Segment / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D005260:Female; D064368:Healthy Volunteers; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009929:Organ Size; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012016:Reference Values; D012590:Sclera / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D041623:Tomography, Optical Coherence; D055815:Young Adult