Comparison of Ocular Biometric Parameters Between Hispanic and Non-Hispanic Ethnicities in White Adults Undergoing Cataract Surgery

Objectives: To compare ocular biometric parameters between Hispanic and non-Hispanic White adult patients undergoing cataract surgery.

Methods: We included 433 adult patients undergoing surgery for senile cataract. Only patients with race and ethnicities of Hispanic and non-Hispanic White were included. The following parameters measured by the IOLMaster 700 were compared between Hispanic and non-Hispanic patients: mean keratometry, corneal astigmatism, anterior chamber depth (ACD), lens thickness, vitreous length, axial length, white-to-white diameter, and emmetropic intraocular lens power.

Results: There were 219 Hispanic patients and 214 non-Hispanic patients with a mean age of 70.1±7.7 years (range, 50-88 years), and 66.7% were women. Although sex distribution was similar between the two groups, Hispanic patients had a lower age compared with non-Hispanic patients (69.3±8.3 vs. 70.9±6.9 years, P=0.02). In biometric values, ACD was significantly lower in Hispanic patients (3.07±0.40 mm) than in non-Hispanic patients (3.16±0.37 mm, P=0.01). Such statistically significant difference persisted after adjustment for age and sex (P=0.01). No other significant differences were found in other ocular parameters measured.

Conclusions: Anterior chamber depth is significantly shorter in Hispanic patients compared with non-Hispanic patients. Such ethnic difference should be considered when performing cataract and corneal surgeries because this ethnic difference may be associated with a higher risk of corneal endothelial injury.