Ocular Dimensions, Refractive Error, and Body Stature in Young Chinese Children with Myopia in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Eyeball shape varies with refraction and body stature. Nevertheless, there are few reports on three-dimensional measurements of eyeball shape in children. The aim of this cross-sectional observational study was to investigate the associations between three-dimensional measurements of ocular dimensions, refractive error, and body stature in young Chinese children with myopia in Kuala Lumpur.

Thirty-five female and 35 male school children aged 8-9 years old were recruited in this study. Cycloplegic spherical equivalent (SE) and visual acuity (VA) were determined using a logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution (logMAR) chart. Body mass index (BMI), body height, and head circumference were ascertained. Three ocular dimensions, that is, longitudinal axial length (LAL), horizontal width (HW), and vertical height (VH), were determined using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

There were significant differences among the ocular dimensions in the myopic children. Bonferroni-corrected pairwise t-tests showed that LAL was significantly longer (mean difference, 0.318 mm) than VH, which was in turn significantly longer (mean difference, 0.245 mm) than HW. Body height was significantly correlated with LAL (p < 0.001) and SE (p < 0.001), and multivariate linear regression confirmed that longer LAL and more myopic SE were associated with increased body height (p < 0.001 for both) but not BMI (p = 0.894 and p = 0.413) or head circumference (p = 0.305 and p = 0.226).

This study confirms previous reports that changes in ocular dimensions are associated with body height in young children. Axial elongation (forming a prolate profile) occurs in myopic children of both genders at a young age.