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Effects of refraction and axial length on childhood optic disk parameters measured by optical coherence tomography
Chameen Samarawickrama1, Xiu Ying Wang, Son C Huynh
1Centre for Vision Research, Department of Ophthalmology, University of Sydney, Westmead Millennium Institute, Westmead Hospital, New South Wales, Australia.
Purpose:
To assess the effects of refraction and axial length on optical coherence tomography (OCT) measures of childhood optic disk parameters.
Design:
Population-based cross-sectional study.
Methods:
Of 4,118 children examined in the Sydney Myopia Study (Sydney Childhood Eye Study) from 34 randomly selected primary schools and 21 secondary schools from 2003 through 2005, 3,529 (85.7%) were included in the analysis (1,395 6-year-old children [year 1 students] and 2,134 12-year-old children [year 7 students]). Comprehensive standardized eye examinations included best-corrected visual acuity, cycloplegic autorefraction, biometry measurements, and fast optic disk scans using OCT.
Results:
After adjusting for magnification, the mean optic disk area was positively associated with axial length (P(trend) < .0001, both age groups) but was not associated consistently with spherical equivalent refraction (SER).
Conclusions:
Optic disk parameters in childhood are influenced by axial length, but not by refractive error itself.
