THE DIAMETER OF THE CILIARY SULCUS - A MORPHOMETRIC STUDY

Based on a precise definition of boundaries of the ciliary sulcus, a n ew anatomical method was used to measure the diameter of the ciliary s ulcus in postmortem eyes. In each of 41 globes, 24 different ciliary s ulcus diameters were measured and were compared with the axial length, measured by ultrasonography. The mean ciliary sulcus diameter was 11. 25 mm (SD=0.38 mm). By linear regression, the axial length values were significantly correlated with ciliary sulcus diameters. In addition, our data suggest the existence of two groups of eyes differentiated ex clusively by the diameter of the ciliary sulcus, independent of the ax ial length. We propose that the displacement of the pars plicata corpo ris ciliaris from the peripheral iris to the iris root during the embr yonic period may be incomplete in eyes of shorter axial length. The fi ndings of the present study may play a role in cataract surgery in whi ch an intraocular lens is inserted into the ciliary sulcus.