An Update of Eye Shape and Myopia

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Biomedical Engineering
• Medical Imaging

Background:

• Myopia is a prevalent global eye disease, with high myopia increasing the risk of pathologic myopia and retinal diseases.
• Prevalence rates for myopia and high myopia are significant and projected to rise substantially by 2050, posing a global socioeconomic challenge.
• Eye shape is increasingly recognized as a potential biomarker for myopia and its progression.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review recent findings on eye shape changes in myopic eyes.
• To highlight abnormal eye shapes associated with pathologic myopia.
• To discuss the role of eye shape as a biomarker for myopia.

Main Methods:

• Utilizing magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) as a primary tool for measuring 3-dimensional eye shape.
• Analyzing studies that correlate eye shape parameters with myopia severity and progression.
• Comparing eye shape characteristics between emmetropic, myopic, and high myopic individuals.

Main Results:

• Myopic eyes exhibit significant enlargement in all three dimensions, with a greater increase in length compared to height and width.
• Retinal shape changes from oblate in emmetropia to less oblate with myopia progression.
• A notable proportion of high myopic eyes display a pointed shape, contrasting with the blunt shape of emmetropic eyes.

Conclusions:

• Abnormal eye shape changes are implicated in the development of simple myopia and various ocular complications due to biomechanical stretching.
• Eye shape analysis, particularly using MRI, offers valuable insights into the pathophysiology of myopia.
• Understanding these shape alterations is crucial for identifying risks and managing myopia and its associated pathologies.