INNER AND OUTER INTERCANTHAL DISTANCES IN A NIGERIAN POPULATION

Abstract

This study investigated the inner and outer intercanthal distances in a Nigeria population. Materials and Methods: The cross sectional study was  carried  on 384 adults (males and females) between the ages of 18-35years. This study was carried in Abraka, Delta State, Nigeria. A pair of digital venier calipers was used to carry out anthropometric measurement of the inner and outer intercanthal distances measured between the medial and lateral ends of the palpebral fissures respectively.The canthal index (CI) was calculated as [ICD x 100]/OCD. Simple descriptive and inferential statistics were calculated from the data obtained. Gender and age differences were scrutinized using the students’ t-test and correlation respectively. P value <0.05 was accepted as significant difference.  Results: The mean canthal dimensions for the Nigerian population was inner-canthal distance (38.65±1.49mm), outer-canthal distance (76.25±4.03mm), and canthal index (50.85±3.50). According to gender, inner-canthal distance was 39.15±1.44mm and 38.15±1.38mm, outer-canthal distance was 76.59±4.13mm and 75.89±3.91mm, and canthal index was 51.26±3.46 and 50.41±3.52 for male and female respectively. There was a significant difference (p<0.05) in the inner-canthal distance and canthal index between male and female. There was insignificant correlation between: age and inner-canthal distance (r= 0.082, p= 0.108), age and outer-canthal distance (r= -0.024, p= 0.641), and age and canthal index (r= 0.064, p=0.213). Conclusion: Sexual dimorphism occurred as the inner canthal distance and canthal index were significantly higher in males compared to females in the Nigerian population.