Ocular biometry in children and adolescents from 4 to 17 years: a cross‐sectional study in central Germany

Abstract

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.

Normative data and percentile curves for axial length and axial length/corneal curvature in Chinese children and adolescents aged 4–18 years

“…24 Comparing AL to European and other ethnic counterparts, longer AL was observed in Chinese children at all ages; the difference increased with age. [25][26][27][28][29] For example, at 6, 9 and 15 years of age, differences in AL for males from current study to those reported by Tideman et al was…”

Distribution, Progression, and Associated Factors of Refractive Status of Children in Lhasa, Tibet, after COVID-19 Quarantine

“…In He et al's [ 34 ] research on Shenzhen kindergarten children aged 3–6 years, girls had shorter AL and ACD and higher LP, and the differences were statistically significant. Other local and foreign studies [ 40 , 41 , 42 ] have also reported this association numerous times, but the rationale remains to be elucidated. Considering that LP decreases with age, maybe among the same age, boys grow faster and earlier than girls.…”

Children in Tokyo Have a Long Sustained Axial Length from Age 3 Years: The Tokyo Myopia Study

“…Myopia often progresses in school-age children, and changes in the balance of each ocular component with growth may be related to the progression of myopia [ 6 ]. The sex- and age-specific mean values of the ocular components have been investigated among children in many countries and regions, including Taiwan [ 7 ], Hong Kong [ 8 ], mainland China [ 9 ], and Germany [ 10 ], using school-based cross-sectional designs. However, to the best of our knowledge, no studies have reported sex- and age-specific summary statistics of these various measurements in a general population with a wide age range using a school-based design in Japanese children.…”