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Variations in Physiological and Myopic Eye Growth Among Children From Different Populations

  • 0Research and Development (Y.L.W., B.D.), EssilorLuxottica, Singapore, Singapore; Wenzhou Medical University-Essilor International Research Center (WEIRC) (Y.L.W., Y.Y., Y.Y., B.D., H.C., J.B.), Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China.
American Journal of Ophthalmology +

|

August 9, 2025

|

August 9, 2025

View abstract on PubMed

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Eye growth rates in Chinese children differ by ethnicity and country. Physiological and myopic eye growth in Wenzhou were compared to other populations, showing significant variations that impact myopia control efficacy interpretations.

Area Of Science

  • Ophthalmology
  • Pediatric Ophthalmology
  • Myopia Research

Background

  • Myopia is a growing global health concern, particularly in East Asian populations.
  • Understanding ethnic and geographic variations in eye growth is crucial for accurate myopia progression assessment.

Purpose Of The Study

  • To evaluate and compare physiological and myopic eye growth in Wenzhou, China, schoolchildren with other international cohorts.
  • To provide data for interpreting myopia control efficacy related to axial elongation.

Main Methods

  • Prospective observational cohort study of 700 nonmyopic and 297 myopic schoolchildren (aged 7-9 years) in Wenzhou, China (WEPrOM study).
  • Axial length (AL) measurements were used to calculate eye growth over 4.5 years.
  • Logistic function models described eye growth; data compared with OLSM, SCORM, and Chinese retrospective studies.

Main Results

  • In the WEPrOM study, predicted physiological eye growth ranged from 0.22 to 0.12 mm/year and myopic eye growth from 0.52 to 0.27 mm/year (ages 7-12).
  • Physiological eye growth in Wenzhou was comparable to other Chinese cohorts but higher than in Singaporean (SCORM) and US (OLSM) cohorts.
  • Myopic eye growth in Wenzhou was comparable to other Chinese cohorts but higher than in SCORM and OLSM cohorts.

Conclusions

  • Significant differences exist in physiological and myopic eye growth rates across diverse ethnic and national populations.
  • Accurate interpretation of myopia control interventions requires using physiological eye growth data from similar source populations.

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