Purpose: To investigate crystalline lens thickness (LT) across a range of ages and accommodative demands and to evaluate the repeatability of LT measurements using the Visante Anterior Segment Optical Coherence Tomographer (AS-OCT) (Zeiss Meditec, Germany) under non-cycloplegic conditions.
Methods: Participants were 98 visually normal adults aged 18-75 years, stratified into age groups of 18-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, and 60-75 years of age. Images of the crystalline lens were taken using the Visante AS-OCT during stimulation of accommodation at demands of 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 8 D with accommodative response measured in a subgroup of participants. Images were analyzed and LT measured assuming a refractive index of 1.42. Repeat measures were taken from 86 participants for each accommodative demand at a second visit.
Results: The mean unaccommodated LT for all participants was 4.07 ± 0.40 mm. An average increase in LT of 20 μm per year was calculated (linear regression, R² = 0.61, F(1,89) = 143.92, p < 0.00001). Increase in LT with accommodation was shown to be significant in the 18- to 29-year-olds (repeated measures ANOVA, F(6,105) = 96.31, p < 0.00001), 30- to 39-year-olds (F(6,93) = 71.25, p < 0.00001), and 40- to 49-year-olds (F(6,90) = 12.60, p < 0.01) with little or no measureable change in the older age groups. Eighty-six participants returned for a second visit. The mean difference in LT in the unaccommodated state for all participants between visit 1 and visit 2 was 0.0006 mm (95% limits of agreement of -0.07 to 0.07 mm). The 95% limits of agreement were widest for youngest age groups and narrowest for the oldest participants.
Conclusions: This study is the first to report the repeatability of LT measures using the Visante AS-OCT in the non-cyclopleged eye. It has also demonstrated the ability of the Visante AS-OCT to detect small changes in lens thickness with accommodation.