Search

Bariah Mohd-Ali,1 Yu Chen Low,1 Mizhanim Mohamad Shahimin,1 Norlaili Arif,1 Hamzaini Abdul Hamid,2 Wan Haslina Wan Abdul Halim,3 Siti Salasiah Mokri,4 Aqilah Baseri Huddin,4 Norhani Mohidin5 1Optometry and Vision Science Program, Research Centre for Community Health, Faculty of Health Science, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; 2Department of Radiology, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; 3Department of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; 4Department of Electrical, Electronics and Systems Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; 5Optometry Centre, Faculty of Health Science, Universiti Teknologi Mara, Kuala Lumpur, MalaysiaCorrespondence: Bariah Mohd-Ali, Optometry and Vision Science Program & Research Centre for Community Health (REACH), Faculty of Health Science, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, 50300, Malaysia, Tel +6019-3296835, Email bariah@ukm.edu.myPurpose: 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.Materials and Methods: 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).Results: 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).Conclusion: 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.Keywords: height, BMI, ocular shape, MRI analysis, axial length