Interpupillary Distance and Peripapillary Myopic Changes: A Pilot Study in a Glaucomatous Cohort

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Optometry
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• Myopia is linked to peripapillary changes like optic disc ovalization (ovality index, OI) and gamma peripapillary atrophy (γPPA).
• Near reading and interpupillary distance (IPD) influence vergence, suggesting a potential role in myopia development.
• The relationship between IPD and myopic peripapillary changes has not been previously investigated.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between interpupillary distance (IPD) and optic disc ovality index (OI) and gamma peripapillary atrophy (γPPA) width in adults.
• To determine if IPD is a contributing factor to the remodeling of the optic nerve head (ONH) in myopia.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study analyzed 100 adult eyes.
• Measurements included axial length (AL), refractive error, IPD, OI, and γPPA width using spectral-domain Optical Coherence Tomography.
• Pearson correlations and multivariable linear regressions were performed, adjusting for age, gender, and myopia status.

Main Results:

• Interpupillary distance (IPD) showed no significant correlation with the ovality index (OI) or gamma peripapillary atrophy (γPPA) width.
• A weak, non-significant correlation was observed between IPD and axial length (AL).
• Axial length (AL) was strongly correlated with a lower OI and wider γPPA (p < 0.001).

Conclusions:

• Interpupillary distance (IPD)-related biomechanical forces do not appear to influence optic nerve head (ONH) shape or γPPA.
• Axial elongation remains the primary driver of optic nerve head remodeling in myopia.