Ophthalmic anthropometry of an urban malawian population

Abstract

Purpose: The aim of this study was to determine the ophthalmic anthropometric measures of an urban Malawian population and further investigate the age and gender variation. Method: Eight ophthalmic anthropometric parameters including near interpupillary distance (NIPD), distance interpupillary distance (DIPD), head width (HW), temple width (TW), length to bend (LTB), splay angle (SA), frontal angle (FA) and Downward angle to drop (DAD) were measured from a sample of 304 participants between the ages of six (6) to twenty-five (25) years. The sample was made up of 177 (58.2%) males and 127 (41.8%) females. Results: The DIPD and NIPD values were 65.5 ± 4.6 mm and 60.9 ± 4.1mm, respectively. The HW (129.3 ± 9.8 mm) was found to be 8 mm wider than the TW (121.2 ± 9.6). The average LTB of the temples was 103.4 ± 6.5 mm with a corresponding DAD of 60.2 ± 1.4°. All noses measured had an average FA of 18.8 ± 2.0° and SA of 28.0 ± 1.4°. Gender and age were significant determinants of the magnitude of the facial parameters evidenced by males and the older population (16-25years) having higher values. Apart from having a relatively narrower nose, Urban Malawians have wider ophthalmic anthropometric measures than Asian, Arab and West Indian populations. They have similar facial measures with border countries like Mozambique and significantly different measures when compared with West African populations. Conclusion: Ophthalmic anthropometry among urban Malawians is different from other populations, and the variations need to be considered in the design and distribution of eyewear as well as the diagnosing of ocular facial anomalies and reconstructive plastic surgeries.

Keywords

• anthropemetry
• ophthalmic
• spectacle
• optometry
• dispensing