To examine the relationships of diabetes with anterior chamber depth, axial length, and refraction.

Population-based cross-sectional study.

This analysis included 943 Singapore Chinese subjects ages 40 to 81 years from the Tanjong Pagar Survey. Diabetes was determined by self-report. A-mode ultrasound was used to measure axial dimensions. Refraction was performed with an autorefractor and refined subjectively.

There were 140 (11.4%) participants with diabetes. After controlling for age and gender, participants with diabetes had shallower anterior chambers (2.78 vs 2.91 mm, P = .004) and thicker lenses (4.88 vs 4.75 mm, P = .003), but similar spherical equivalent refraction (–0.38 vs –0.47 diopters [D], P = .73), axial length (23.09 vs 23.19 mm, P = .40), and vitreous chamber depth (15.52 vs 15.59 mm, P = .53).

In the Singapore Chinese population, persons with diabetes have shallower anterior chambers and thicker lenses than those without diabetes. Diabetes may be a risk factor for angle closure glaucoma (ACG).