Comparison of Bruch's Membrane Opening Minimum Rim Width Among Those With Normal Ocular Health by Race.
OBJECTIVE
To examine if racial differences in Bruch's membrane opening minimum rim width (BMO-MRW) in spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SDOCT) exist, specifically between people of African descent (AD) and European descent (ED) in normal ocular health.


METHODS
Cross-sectional study.


METHODS
Patients presenting for a comprehensive eye examination at retail-based primary eye clinics were enrolled based on ≥1 of the following at-risk criteria for glaucoma: AD aged ≥40 years, ED aged ≥50 years, diabetes, family history of glaucoma, and/or pre-existing diagnosis of glaucoma. Participants with normal optic nerves on examination received SDOCT of the optic nerve head (24 radial scans). Global and regional (temporal, superotemporal, inferotemporal, nasal, superonasal, and inferonasal) BMO-MRW were measured and compared by race using generalized estimating equations. Models were adjusted for age, sex, and BMO area.


RESULTS
SDOCT scans from 269 eyes (148 participants) were included in the analysis. Mean global BMO-MRW declined as age increased. After adjusting for age, sex, and BMO area, there was not a statistically significant difference in mean global BMO-MRW by race (P = .60). Regionally, the mean BMO-MRW was lower in the crude model among AD eyes in the temporal, superotemporal, and nasal regions and higher in the inferotemporal, superonasal, and inferonasal regions. However, in the adjusted model, these differences were not statistically significant.


CONCLUSIONS
BMO-MRW was not statistically different between those of AD and ED. Race-specific normative data may not be necessary for the deployment of BMO-MRW in AD patients.
Department of Ophthalmology, School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama. Electronic address: lindsayrhodes@uabmc.edu.
Lindsay A
LA
Rhodes
Department of Ophthalmology, School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama.
Carrie E
CE
Huisingh
Department of Ophthalmology, School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama.
Adam E
AE
Quinn
Department of Ophthalmology, School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama; Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama.
Gerald
G
McGwin
Walmart Vision Center #1481, Birmingham, Alabama.
Frank
F
LaRussa
Walmart Vision Center #715 and Global Eye Care PC, Tuscaloosa, Alabama.
Daniel
D
Box
Department of Ophthalmology, School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama.
Cynthia
C
Owsley
Department of Ophthalmology, School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama.
Christopher A
CA
Girkin
D000328:Adult; D000407:Alabama / Q000453:epidemiology; D016570:Bruch Membrane / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005901:Glaucoma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000208:ethnology; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009898:Optic Disk / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D044469:Racial Groups; D012016:Reference Values; D041623:Tomography, Optical Coherence / Q000379:methods*