The relationship between anterior chamber depth and the presence of diabetes in the Tanjong Pagar Survey.

Abstract

To examine the relationships of diabetes with anterior chamber depth, axial length, and refraction. Population-based cross-sectional study. This analysis included 943 Singapore Chinese subjects ages 40 to 81 years from the Tanjong Pagar Survey. Diabetes was determined by self-report. A-mode ultrasound was used to measure axial dimensions. Refraction was performed with an autorefractor and refined subjectively. There were 140 (11.4%) participants with diabetes. After controlling for age and gender, participants with diabetes had shallower anterior chambers (2.78 vs 2.91 mm, P = .004) and thicker lenses (4.88 vs 4.75 mm, P = .003), but similar spherical equivalent refraction (-0.38 vs -0.47 diopters [D], P = .73), axial length (23.09 vs 23.19 mm, P = .40), and vitreous chamber depth (15.52 vs 15.59 mm, P = .53). In the Singapore Chinese population, persons with diabetes have shallower anterior chambers and thicker lenses than those without diabetes. Diabetes may be a risk factor for angle closure glaucoma (ACG).