[Intraocular pressure in children and adolescents with myopia]

To determine, whether intraocular pressure (IOP) is associated with myopia and axial length in children and adolescents.

129 patients in age from 9 to 18 years (mean 14.5 years), were examined. They underwent dynamic contour tonometry, cycloplegic autorefraction, and A-scan biometry. For analyses, refractive error was split into three groups: low myopia (spherical equivalent refraction - SE < -3.00 D), moderate myopia (SE from -3,00 D to -6,00 D), and high myopia (SE > -6.00 D).

There were no significant IOP differences between eyes with low (mean IOP = 15.15 mm Hg +/- 2.73), moderate (15.3 mmHg +/- 2.6) or high myopes (15.6 mmHg +/- 2.33). IOP was not correlated with spherical equivalent refraction (p = 0.49) or axial length (Spearman correlation, r = 0.04). There were also no statistically significant differences in IOP between the less myopic and more myopic eyes of 11 patients with anisometropia > 3,00 D. Neither spherical equivalent (p = 0.49) nor axial length (p = 0.51) were significantly associated with IOP in anisometropic patients.

IOP was not associated with refractive error and axial length in the eyes of myopic children and adolescents. Further observations are necessary, because myopia can be a risk factor in developing juvenile glaucoma.