Purpose: To analyze natural variability in pupillary contractility with dynamic volume-rendered optical coherence tomography (OCT) pupillometry regarding iris color, age, and sex in healthy Caucasian participants.
Methods: The intrapupillary spaces (IPSs) derived from anterior segment swept-source OCT of 71 healthy eyes were retrospectively analyzed. Baseline scotopic and photopic volumes and the functional parameters of pupillary ejection fraction (PEF), three-dimensional (3D) contractility, and relative light response (RLR) were measured on the swept-source OCT volumes. The effect on these parameters of iris color (brown, green, and blue), age, and sex was assessed.
Results: More pigmented irises were more contractile than less pigmented irises. Iris color significantly affected scotopic baseline IPSs (brown, 10.39 ± 4.86 mm3; green, 9.68 ± 3.31 mm3; blue, 6.75 ± 4.27 mm3; P = 0.018), PEF (brown, 90.8% ± 2.7%; green, 89.1% ± 2.5%; blue, 85.0% ± 9.3%; P = 0.010), 3D contractility (brown, 9.52 ± 4.59 mm3; green, 8.66 ± 3.07 mm3; blue, 6.44 ± 4.87 mm3; P = 0.016), and RLR (brown, 11.90 ± 4.03; green, 9.75 ± 2.73; blue, 8.52 ± 3.88; P = 0.026). Absolute scotopic volume (P = 0.022) and 3D contractility (P = 0.024) decreased with age. Sex showed no correlations.
Conclusions: The natural variability of pupillary contractility can be analyzed with dynamic OCT pupillometry. Iris color and age can impact pupillary response with this method.
Translational relevance: Iris contractility parameters can be measured using a commercially available OCT system, allowing for quantification of the aqueous humor volume inside the pupil.