Author/Authors :
Sabermoghaddam, Ali akbar Khatam-Al-Anbia Hospital - Khatam Al Anbia Hospital - Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran , Golestani, Shahin Khatam-Al-Anbia Hospital - Khatam Al Anbia Hospital - Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran , Hassanpour, Kiana Imam Hossein Hospital - Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran , Bakhtiari, Elham Department of Pharmacology - Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
Abstract :
Purpose: To evaluate the dimensions of lower punctum in a sample of Iranian normal population using spectral domain anterior segment optical coherence tomography (OCT).
Methods: In this cross‑sectional study, 102 eyes of 102 healthy volunteers were enrolled. All participants underwent a detailed history and
complete ophthalmic examination. Lower punctum metrics were measured using OCT (Spectralis, Heidelberg) with the anterior segment
module. External punctal diameter was defined as the largest diameter at the surface of the punctum. Internal punctal diameter was measured
at two different depths of 100 μm and 500 μm from the external surface. Measurements were repeated for 30% of data by another grader. The
agreement was measured using intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC).
Results: The mean age of the participants was 61.5 ± 7.9 years. The mean external punctal diameter was 425.6 ± 124.3 μm. The mean internal
punctal diameter at 100 μm and 500 μm was 183 ± 97.5 μm and 77.7 ± 51.4 μm, respectively. The agreement between the graders was high
in assessing all punctal characteristics (ICC >0.9 for all measurements).
Conclusion: The spectral domain OCT can be used for measuring lower punctum diameter with acceptable reproducibility.