Abstract

Purpose: To investigate the effects of physical size on refractive error and the dimensions of optical components in sickle cell disease (SCD). Methods: The design was cross sectional. Height and weight of adult patients suffering from SCD were measured, and body mass index (BMI) was calculated. Anterior chamber depth (ACD), lens thickness (LT), vitreous chamber depth (VCD) and axial length (AL) were measured using A-scan ultrasonography. Corneal radius of curvature (CR) was measured using a keratometer. Non-cycloplegic refractive error was determined subjectively. Results: Subjects with SC genotype were significantly taller than those with SS genotype. In the unadjusted data, height was correlated with VCD [p = 0.02, 0.44 mm deeper per 10 cm increase in height, 95% CI (0.65, 8.25)] and AL [p = 0.03, 0.42 mm longer for every 10 cm increase in height, 95%CI (0.49, 7.99)]. The relationship between height, VCD and AL was absent after adjustment for age, gender, genotype and weight. BMI (kg m−2) was correlated with AL/CR ratio in both unadjusted (p = 0.04, −0.10 decrease per 1 kg m−2, 95% CI (−0.018, −0.001) and adjusted data (p = 0.05, −0.10 decrease per 10 kg m−2, 95% CI (−0.0189, 0.0001). Refractive error was not related to height, weight or BMI. Conclusions: Physical size does not affect refractive error or optical components in adult patients with SCD.