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Distribution and determinants of eye size and shape in newborn children: a magnetic resonance imaging analysis
Laurence Shen Lim1, Gim Hong Chong, Pei Ting Tan
1Singapore Eye Research Institute, Singapore.
Insights
Most newborn Singaporean Asian infants have prolate eyes, characterized by a longer axial length than width or height. Further research is needed to understand if this initial eye shape impacts future refractive development.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Pediatric Imaging
- Developmental Biology
Background:
- Accurate measurement of infant eye dimensions is crucial for understanding visual development.
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) offers a non-invasive method for detailed ocular assessment in newborns.
Purpose of the Study:
- To quantify eye size and shape in newborns using MRI.
- To explore associations between antenatal factors and ocular dimensions in infants.
Main Methods:
- 173 full-term newborns from the GUSTO cohort underwent ocular MRI.
- Eye volume, surface area, and axial length (AL) were measured.
- Eye shape was classified as prolate, spherical, or oblate based on calculated oblateness.
Main Results:
- The majority of newborn eyes were found to be prolate.
- Longer axial lengths correlated with larger eye volumes and surface areas.
- Maternal education level and ethnicity were associated with variations in ocular dimensions.
Conclusions:
- Newborn Singaporean Asian infants predominantly exhibit prolate eye shapes.
- Longitudinal studies are necessary to determine the influence of birth globe shape on refractive development.
Purpose:
To determine the eye size and shape obtained by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and to determine associations with antenatal factors in newborn children.
Methods:
A subset of 173 full-term newborn children from the Growing Up in Singapore Towards Healthy Outcomes (GUSTO) birth cohort underwent MRI. Eye volume and surface area were measured. Eye shape was assessed qualitatively from three-dimensional models, and quantitatively by measurement of longitudinal axial length (AL, the length from the posterior corneal surface to the retinal surface), and horizontal width and vertical height of the internal eye along the cardinal axes. Oblateness was calculated as 1-(AL/width) or 1-(AL/height). Oblate eyes had oblateness>+0.01, spherical eyes had oblateness between +0.01 and -0.01, and prolate eyes had oblateness<-0.01.
Results:
A total of 346 eyes of 173 children were included. Mean oblateness using width was -0.06±0.05 (range, -0.23 to +0.08), and mean oblateness using height was -0.01±0.04 (range, -0.19 to +0.13). Using width, most eyes were prolate (294 eyes, 85%); and using height, the largest proportion of eyes was prolate (163 eyes, 47%). Eyes with longer ALs had greater widths, heights, volumes, and surface areas than eyes with shorter ALs (P<0.001 for all). With increasing AL, eyes became increasingly prolate. Children of less educated mothers had longer ALs (P=0.02). Malay children had larger eye volumes and surface areas than Chinese or Indian children.
Conclusions:
Most newborn Singaporean Asian children are born with prolate eyes. A longitudinal study is required to determine if globe shape at birth influences subsequent refractive changes.
