Longitudinal changes in axial length in high myopia: a 4-year prospective study

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Longitudinal studies
• Myopia research

Background:

• High myopia is a significant risk factor for various ophthalmic conditions.
• Understanding axial length changes is crucial for predicting disease progression.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate longitudinal changes in axial length (AL) in patients with high myopia.
• To compare axial length changes between high myopia patients and a control group.

Main Methods:

• Two groups were studied: high myopia (60 eyes) and control (60 eyes).
• Participants were categorized into subgroups based on baseline axial length.
• Axial length was measured five times over a 4-year period using an IOL master.
• Linear mixed models were employed to analyze the data.

Main Results:

• The high myopia group exhibited a consistent increase in axial length over time.
• Subgroups 1, 2, and 3 showed significant annual increases in AL (0.064, 0.032, and 0.012 mm/year, respectively).
• Baseline axial length was the only significant predictor of AL change in multivariate analysis (p<0.001).

Conclusions:

• Myopic eyes, including those with moderate myopia, demonstrate consistent axial length elongation over four years.
• Eyes with longer baseline axial lengths experience greater increases in axial length.