Biometric Variations in High Myopia Associated with Different Underlying Ocular and Genetic Conditions

To report different biometric measurements in high myopia associated with different underlying ocular and genetic conditions.

Retrospective study.

Patients with high myopia.

We searched the Stanford Research Repository tool to identify patients with the diagnosis of high myopia who were seen by a single provider at Byers Eye Institute at Stanford from January 2019 to March 2022. We performed a chart review and included eyes that had high myopia and ocular biometric measurements at any time point after January 2019. We divided our cohort into 5 different groups: (1) isolated high myopia (IHM) (control group); (2) retinopathy of prematurity (ROP); (3) familial exudative vitreoretinopathy; (4) Marfan syndrome; and (5) Stickler syndrome.

Biometric measurements.

A total of 246 patients (432 eyes) were included as follows: 202 patients (359 eyes) in the IHM group, 17 patients (27 eyes) in the ROP group, 7 patients (12 eyes) in the familial exudative vitreoretinopathy group, 8 patients (14 eyes) in the Marfan group, and 12 patients (20 eyes) in the Stickler group. The ROP group showed significantly shorter axial lengths, shallower anterior chambers, and thicker lenses compared with the IHM group. The Marfan group showed significantly flatter corneas and thicker lenses compared with the IHM group. The Stickler group showed significantly longer axial lengths compared with the IHM group.

High myopia is associated with variable biometric measurements according to underlying ocular or genetic conditions. Retinopathy of prematurity-associated high myopia is primarily lenticular, while Stickler syndrome-associated high myopia is axial. Marfan syndrome-associated high myopia is derived from both axial and lenticular mechanisms.