Orbital Measurement in Black and White Populations

Objective: Obtain measurements of globe projection, intercanthal distance (ICD), interpupillary distance (IPD), palpebral fissure width (PFW), and palpebral fissure height (PFH) in a population of presumably normal white and black adults to determine if any significant differences exist between these groups. Study Design: Prospective direct measurement of cohorts regarding orbital and globe measurements in a tertiary medical center. Methods: Measurements of globe projection, ICD, IPD, PFW, and PFH were taken in 61 black adults and directly compared with measures taken from 65 white adults in an outpatient setting. Mean values and ranges were calculated and compared between races and sexes using an unpaired t test. Results: A significant difference was found between races for globe projection, with black males demonstrating a mean projection of 18.23 ± 2.26 mm as compared with 17 ± 2.65 mm for white males (P > .025). Black females demonstrated a mean projection of 17.27 ± 1.44 mm as compared with 15.98 ± 2.22 mm for white females (P > .01). Similar differences were seen for measures of IPD and PFW, with greater mean values for black as compared with white adults. No racial differences existed for ICD or PFH. Conclusions: These findings suggest that racial differences exist for certain measures of globe and orbital position, i.e., projection, IPD, and PFW. Racial background should be considered when evaluating orbital anatomy.