Biometry and visual function of a healthy cohort in Leipzig, Germany.
BACKGROUND
Cross-sectional survey of ocular biometry and visual function in healthy eyes across the life span of a German population aged 20 to 69 years (n = 218). Subject number in percent per age category reflected the percentage within the respective age band of the population of Leipzig, Germany.


METHODS
Measurements obtained: subjective and objective refraction, best-corrected visual acuity, accommodation, contrast sensitivity, topography and pachymetry with Scheimpflug camera, axial length with non-contact partial coherence interferometry, and spectral-domain optical coherence tomography of the retina. Pearson correlation coefficients with corresponding p-values were given to present interrelationships between stature, biometric and refractive parameters or their associations with age. Two-sample T-tests were used to calculate gender differences. The area under the logarithmic contrast sensitivity function (AULCSF) was calculated for the analysis of contrast sensitivity as a single figure across a range of spatial frequencies.


RESULTS
The results of axial length (AL), anterior chamber depth (ACD) and anterior chamber volume (ACV) differed as a function of the age of the participants (rho (p value): AL -0.19 (0.006), ACD -0.56 (< 0.001), ACV-0.52 (< 0.001)). Longer eyes had deeper ACD (AL:ACD 0.62 (< 0.001), greater ACV (AL:ACV 0.65 (< 0.001) and steeper corneal radii (AL:R1ant; R2ant; R1post; R2post 0.40; 0.35; 0.36; 0.36 (all with (< 0.001)). Spherical equivalent was associated with age (towards hyperopia: 0.34 (< 0.001)), AL (-0.66 (< 0.001)), ACD (-0.52 (< 0.001)) and ACV (-0.46 (< 0.001)). Accommodation was found lower for older subjects (negative association with age, r = -0.82 (< 0.001)) and contrast sensitivity presented with smaller values for older ages (AULCSF -0.38, (< 0.001)), no change of retinal thickness with age. 58 % of the study cohort presented with a change of refractive correction above ±0.50 D in one or both eyes (64 % of these were habitual spectacle wearers), need for improvement was present in the young age-group and for older subjects with increasing age.


CONCLUSIONS
Biometrical data of healthy German eyes, stratified by age, gender and refractive status, enabled cross-comparison of all parameters, providing an important reference database for future patient-based research and specific in-depth investigations of biometric data in epidemiological research.


BACKGROUND
ClinicalTrials.gov # NCT01173614 July 28, 2010.
Department of Ophthalmology, Leipzig University Hospital, Liebigstrasse 10-14, 04103, Leipzig, Germany.
Maria Teresa
MT
Zocher
Department of Ophthalmology, Antwerp University Hospital, Wilrijkstraat 10, 2650, Edegem, Belgium.|Department of Medicine and Health Science, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610, Wilrijk, Belgium.
Jos J
JJ
Rozema
Department of Ophthalmology, Leipzig University Hospital, Liebigstrasse 10-14, 04103, Leipzig, Germany.
Nicole
N
Oertel
Department of Ophthalmology, Leipzig University Hospital, Liebigstrasse 10-14, 04103, Leipzig, Germany.
Jens
J
Dawczynski
Department of Ophthalmology, Leipzig University Hospital, Liebigstrasse 10-14, 04103, Leipzig, Germany.
Peter
P
Wiedemann
Department of Ophthalmology, Leipzig University Hospital, Liebigstrasse 10-14, 04103, Leipzig, Germany. franziska.rauscher@medizin.uni-leipzig.de.
Franziska G
FG
Rauscher
D000065:Accommodation, Ocular / Q000502:physiology; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology; D000867:Anterior Chamber / Q000502:physiology; D058452:Axial Length, Eye / Q000502:physiology; D001699:Biometry / Q000379:methods; D015350:Contrast Sensitivity / Q000502:physiology; D019781:Corneal Topography; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D007908:Lens, Crystalline / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009799:Ocular Physiological Phenomena; D012029:Refraction, Ocular / Q000502:physiology; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000502:physiology; D055815:Young Adult
Cross section; Dioptric distance; Gullstrand; Ocular biometry; Visual function