Mean shape of the human limbus

TL;DR

This study characterizes the average topographical shape of the human limbus, finding it asymmetrical and shape-dependent but unaffected by age or refractive power, using a Fourier series model for accuracy.

Contribution

It introduces a Fourier series-based model to accurately describe the human limbus shape and assesses its independence from age and refractive status.

Findings

Second order Fourier series best models limbus shape

Limbus shape is asymmetrical and shape-dependent

No significant shape differences across age or refractive groups

Abstract

Purpose: To characterize the mean topographical shape of the human limbus of a normal eye and ascertain whether it depends on age and refractive power. Setting: Academic institution. Design: Prospective case series. Methods: 74 subjects aged from 20 to 84 years and with no previous ocular surgeries were included in this study. The left eye was measured four times with a corneo scleral topographer (Eye Surface Profiler). From the raw anterior eye height data of each measurement, topographical limbus was demarcated and fitted in three dimensions to a circle, an ellipse and a Fourier series. Root mean square error (RMSE) was calculated to evaluate the goodness of fit. In addition, white to white (WTW) corneal diameter was taken from the readings of the measuring device and compared with the topographical limbus. For statistical analysis, subjects were grouped as young and older, and also according their equivalent sphere correction. Results: From the considered models, second order Fourier series resulted in the most accurate model to describe the shape of the human limbus. The difference between the topographical limbus diameter and the WTW corneal diameter amounted on average and standard deviation to 0.33 mm and 0.24 mm. Statistically significant differences among eye quadrants were found. No statistically significant difference in horizontal and vertical meridian between age groups (P=0.71 and P=0.082, respectively) or between myopes and emmetropes (P=0.78 and P=0.68, respectively) were found. Conclusions: Human limbus is not symmetrical and its shape is subject dependent but not related to age and eye refractive power.