Related Experiment Video
Updated: Nov 6, 2025
Assessing Binocular Central Visual Field and Binocular Eye Movements in a Dichoptic Viewing Condition
Published on: July 21, 2020
Ocular biometry in children and adolescents from 4 to 17 years: a cross-sectional study in central Germany
Franziska G Rauscher1,2, Mike Francke1,3, Andreas Hiemisch2,4
1Institute for Medical Informatics, Statistics, and Epidemiology (IMISE), Leipzig University, Leipzig, Germany.
Insights
This study found that eye growth in children, specifically axial length, shows differences between sexes, with girls exhibiting a lag compared to boys. These findings establish normative values for assessing eye development and monitoring refractive errors in European children.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Pediatric Medicine
- Biometry
Background:
- Ocular biometry data in pediatric populations is crucial for understanding normal eye development.
- Establishing normative values aids in the early detection of potential vision abnormalities.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate ocular biometry in a large pediatric cohort of European descent.
- To analyze age- and sex-dependent variations in key ocular parameters.
Main Methods:
- Population-based study involving 1907 children aged 4-17 years.
- Ocular biometry measurements using Lenstar LS 900 and wavefront-based autorefraction.
- Analysis of axial length, corneal thickness, corneal radii, aqueous depth, lens thickness, and vitreous depth.
Main Results:
- Axial length increased with age in both sexes, with girls showing a developmental lag of approximately four years compared to boys.
- Central corneal thickness remained stable; corneal curvature showed minor age-related changes in girls.
- Aqueous and vitreous depths increased with age, while lens thickness decreased from age 4 to 10 in both sexes.
Conclusions:
- Ocular component dimensions are correlated with axial length, providing insights into overall eye growth.
- The study provides normative values for central European children, essential for monitoring refractive error development.
- Observed sex-based differences in eye growth highlight the importance of age- and sex-specific reference data.
Purpose:
To evaluate ocular biometry in a large paediatric population as a function of age and sex in children of European descent.
Methods:
Children were examined as part of the LIFE Child Study (Leipzig Research Centre for Civilization Disease), a population-based study in Leipzig, Germany. Altogether, 1907 children, aged from 4 to 17 years, were examined with the Lenstar LS 900. Data from the right eye was analysed for axial length, central corneal thickness, flat and steep corneal radii, aqueous depth, lens thickness and vitreous depth. Wavefront-based autorefraction was employed for analysis.
Results:
Axial length increased in girls from 21.6 mm (4 years) up to 23.4 mm (17 years); this increase (0.174 mm per year) was statistically significant up to age 14 (23.3 mm). Axial length increased in boys from 22.2 mm (4 years) up to 23.9 mm (17 years); this increase (0.178 mm per year) was statistically significant up to age 10 (23.3 mm). No change was observed for central corneal thickness (average: girls 550 µm; boys 554 µm). Corneal curvature in girls was somewhat flatter at age 4 (7.70 mm) compared to age 10 (7.78 mm), whereas it was constant in boys (7.89 mm). Aqueous depth at age 4 was 2.73 mm for girls and 2.86 mm for boys, with the same rate of increase per year (girls: 0.046 mm; boys: 0.047 mm) from age 4 to 10. At age 17, aqueous depth was 3.06 mm in girls and 3.20 mm in boys. Lens thickness was reduced from age 4 (3.75 mm) to age 10 (3.47 mm) in girls and from age 4 (3.73 mm) to age 10 (3.44 mm) in boys, with the same rate of decrease per year of 0.046 and 0.047 mm, respectively. At age 17, lens thickness was 3.52 mm in girls and 3.50 mm in boys. Vitreous depth at age 4 was 14.51 mm for girls and 15.08 mm for boys; with 0.156 mm (girls) or 0.140 mm (boys) increase per year until age 14 (girls: 16.08 mm; boys: 16.48 mm). At age 17, vitreous depth was 16.29 mm in girls and 16.62 mm in boys.
Conclusions:
Eye growth (axial length) in girls showed a lag of about four years compared to boys. Aqueous depth increase matches the lens thickness decrease from ages 4 to 10 years in girls and boys. Lens thickness minimum is reached at 11 years in girls and at 12 years in boys. All dimensions of the optical ocular components are closely correlated with axial length. These data may serve as normative values for the assessment of eye growth in central European children and will provide a basis for monitoring refractive error development.
