Rotation asymmetry of the human sclera

Abstract

Purpose: To characterize the mean topographical shape of the human sclera of a normal eye.

Methods: Forty-five participants aged from 19 to 45 years and with no previous ocular surgeries were included in this study. Four three-dimensional (3D) corneo-scleral maps from both eyes were acquired using a corneo-scleral topographer (Eye Surface Profiler). For each 3D map, the sclera (maximum diameter of 16 mm) and cornea were automatically separated at the level of the limbus. The remaining 3D scleral ring was further fit to a quadratic function. The elevation difference between the original and fit data was calculated. For statistical analysis, sclera was divided into eight sectors: nasal, temporal, superior, inferior, supero-nasal, supero-temporal, inferior-nasal and inferior-temporal. In addition, sclera was separated as inner sclera (inner ring of 6-7-mm radius) and outer sclera (external ring of 7-8-mm radius).

Results: Horizontally, the nasal area of the sclera showed less elevation [mean (SD) -30 (52) μm (OD)] than the temporal area [mean (SD) 4 (47) μm (OD)], p < 0.001. Vertically, the inferior area of the sclera [mean (SD) 32 (72) μm (OD)] was slightly less elevated than the superior area (mean (SD) 36 (84) μm, but this difference was not statistically significant (p = 0.40). Besides, the asymmetry of the sclera was found to increase with radial distance from the corneal apex. No statistically significant difference was found between right and left eye.

Conclusion: Human sclera is rotationally asymmetric, and its shape varies considerably between subjects.

Keywords: ocular surface; sclera; scleral lenses; topography.