Related Experiment Video
Updated: Dec 14, 2025
Full-Field Optical Coherence Microscopy for Histology-Like Analysis of Stromal Features in Corneal Grafts
Published on: October 21, 2022
Pediatric Corneal Structural Development During Childhood Characterized by Ultrasound Biomicroscopy
Insights
Pediatric corneal structures undergo significant changes from infancy through early adulthood, particularly in the first year of life. These findings highlight the importance of age in analyzing pediatric corneal imaging data.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Pediatric Ophthalmology
- Corneal Imaging
Background:
- Corneal structural development in children is not fully understood.
- Quantitative data on age-related corneal changes is limited.
Purpose of the Study:
- To quantitatively describe structural corneal changes from infancy to early adulthood.
- To utilize ultrasound biomicroscopy for precise measurements.
Main Methods:
- Prospective study of 24 healthy pediatric patients (birth to 26 years).
- 168 ultrasound biomicroscopy images analyzed using ImageJ software.
- Twelve corneal structural parameters measured and compared between age groups.
Main Results:
- Five of twelve corneal structures showed statistically significant age-related differences (P < .05).
- Corneal width, length, central thickness, and radii of curvature differed significantly in infants (<1 year).
- Curvature and limbus-to-limbus dimensions exhibited more dramatic changes than thickness.
Conclusions:
- Pediatric corneal structures exhibit significant age-dependent changes.
- The most substantial alterations occur in early infancy, with continued changes throughout childhood.
- Age is a critical factor in the analysis of pediatric corneal imaging.
Purpose:
To quantitatively describe the structural corneal changes from infancy to early adulthood using ultrasound biomicroscopy.
Methods:
In this prospective study, 168 ultrasound biomicroscopy images were obtained from 24 healthy eyes of 24 patients who consented and enrolled in the Pediatric Anterior Segment Imaging Innovation Study. Their ages ranged from birth to 26 years. An established ultrasound biomicroscopy imaging protocol including seven views of one eye per patient were obtained and measured using ImageJ software (National Institutes of Health). Twelve corneal structural parameters were measured. Means were compared between younger and older groups.
Results:
Among the 12 measured structures, 5 demonstrated statistically significant differences (P < .05) between patients younger than 1 year and patients older than 1 year. The mean values for corneal cross-sectional width and length, central corneal thickness, and radii of curvature (anterior and posterior) were significantly different in patients younger than 1 year. Curvature and limbus-to-limbus dimensions changed more dramatically than thickness and tissue density. When comparing the youngest to oldest subgroups, anterior curvature flattened (6.14 to 7.55 radius), posterior curvature flattened (5.53 to 6.72 radius), angle-to-angle distance increased (8.93 to 11.40 mm), and endothelial cross-sectional distance increased (10.63 to 13.61 mm).
Conclusions:
Pediatric corneal structures change with age. The most significant changes occur in the first months of life, with additional changes later in childhood. This study further demonstrates the importance of age in pediatric corneal imaging analysis. [J Pediatr Ophthalmol Strabismus. 2020;57(4):238-245.].
