Interocular asymmetries in axial length and refractive error in 4 cohorts

The 10,000 Eyes Study: Analysis of Keratometry, Abulafia-Koch regression transformation, and Biometric Eye Parameters Obtained With Swept-Source Optical Coherence Tomography

PURPOSE

To analyze Abulafia-Koch regression (AKRT), anterior and posterior astigmatism (K and TK), and evaluate biometry data in a large population.

DESIGN

Retrospective cross-sectional study.

METHODS

This multicenter (2 tertiary care centers) study analyzed datasets acquired between 2017 and 2020. Axial length (AL), corneal front and back radii (including meridians for K and TK conversion), horizontal corneal diameter, anterior chamber depth, lens thickness, and central corneal thickness were measured using telecentric keratometry and swept-source optical coherence tomography-based biometry (IOLMaster 700; Carl Zeiss Meditec AG). Cooke-modified axial length (CMAL) and AKRT were calculated. Difference vectors between K and TK astigmatism and between AKRT and TK astigmatism were compared.

RESULTS

A total of 10,300 eyes from 6388 patients were assessed. Difference vectors for K and TK were significantly smaller than for AKRT and TK. K measurement showed a configuration of 51.49% of with-the-rule astigmatism and 30.51% against-the-rule astigmatism, TK measurement showed a configuration of 41.60% of with-the-rule astigmatism and 40.21% against-the-rule astigmatism. Mean total astigmatism was -0.94 ± 0.74 dpt. Mean values for AL and CMAL were 23.70 ± 1.39 mm and 23.70 ± 1.34 mm, respectively. Anterior chamber depth, lens thickness, horizontal corneal diameter, AL, and age were all correlated with each other.

CONCLUSION

Astigmatism analysis showed less difference between K and TK than between AKRT and TK. There were significantly fewer eyes with with-the-rule astigmatism and more eyes with against-the-rule astigmatism configuration in TK-derived than in K-derived keratometry. The study provides data on gender and generational differences in biometry. Significant intersexual differences in AL and CMAL were observed, with CMAL providing lower standard deviation compared with AL.

Axial Length Distributions in Patients With Genetically Confirmed Inherited Retinal Diseases

Purpose

We investigated axial length (AL) distributions in inherited retinal diseases (IRDs), comparing them with reference cohorts.

Methods

AL measurements from IRD natural history study participants were included and compared with reference cohorts (TwinsUK, Raine Study Gen2-20, and published studies). Comparing with the Raine Study cohort, formal odds ratios (ORs) for AL ≥ 26 mm or AL ≤ 22 mm were derived for each IRD (Firth's logistic regression model, adjusted for age and sex).

Results

Measurements were available for 435 patients (median age, 19.5 years). Of 19 diseases, 10 had >10 participants: ABCA4 retinopathy; CNGB3- and CNGA3-associated achromatopsia; RPGR-associated disease; RPE65-associated disease; blue cone monochromacy (BCM); Bornholm eye disease (BED); TYR- and OCA2-associated oculocutaneous albinism; and GPR143-associated ocular albinism. Compared with the TwinsUK cohort (n = 322; median age, 65.1 years) and Raine Study cohort (n = 1335; median age, 19.9 years), AL distributions were wider in the IRD groups. Increased odds for longer ALs were observed for BCM, BED, RPGR, RPE65, OCA2, and TYR; increased odds for short AL were observed for RPE65, TYR, and GPR143. In subanalysis of RPGR-associated disease, longer average ALs occurred in cone-rod dystrophy (n = 5) than rod-cone dystrophy (P = 0.002).

Conclusions

Several diseases showed increased odds for longer AL (highest OR with BCM); some showed increased odds for shorter AL (highest OR with GPR143). Patients with RPE65- and TYR-associated disease showed increased odds for longer and for shorter eyes. Albinism genes were associated with different effects on AL. These findings add to the phenotype of IRDs and may yield insights into mechanisms of refractive error development.

Refractive and biometrical characteristics of children with retinopathy of prematurity who received laser photocoagulation or intravitreal ranibizumab injection

PURPOSE

To investigate the refractive and biometrical developments of children with retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) who received laser photocoagulation (LP) or intravitreal ranibizumab injection as treatment.

METHODS

This case-control study involved cases with Zone II Stage 3 ROP. Fourteen children (28 eyes) who received single LP were included in the laser group, and 14 children (27 eyes) who received single intravitreal ranibizumab injection were included in the injection group. The mean age at operation was 37.00±1.72 and 36.36±1.66 weeks for the laser and injection groups, respectively (P=0.161), and refraction measurements and biometry were performed at the mean age of 5.00±1.63 and 5.00±0.94 years for the laser and injection groups, respectively (P=1.000). Spherical equivalent (SE) after mydriatic refraction and best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) were measured by refraction test. Central corneal thickness (CCT), anterior corneal surface curvature and curvature radius, anterior chamber depth (ACD), lens thickness (LT) and axial length (AL) were measured by biometry using the IOL Master700 biometric instrument (Carl Zeiss Meditec AG). The biometrical images were reanalysed using a self-developed program in MATLAB (R2016a, MathWorks, Inc.) to obtain additional eye parameters, including the curvatures of the posterior cornea and the anterior and posterior surfaces of the lens. SPSS (V.23.0) was used for statistical analysis. Independent sample t test was used to compare the eyeball biological and refractive state measures of the two groups, and Pearson correlation coefficient was used to evaluate the correlation between SE and the biological parameters.

RESULTS

1. (1) Cornea-related parameters: CCT (0.54±0.04mm vs 0.55±0.02mm, P>0.05), anterior corneal surface curvature radius (7.56±0.26 mm vs 7.67±0.43mm, P>0.05) and posterior corneal surface curvature radius (6.82±0.27mm vs 6.79±0.42mm, P>0.05). (2) ACD (3.21 ± 0.25mm vs 3.22 ± 0.19mm, P>0.05). (3) Lens-related parameters: anterior lens surface curvature radius (10.04±0.89mm vs 9.82±1.08mm, P>0.05), posterior lens surface curvature radius (5.49±0.55mm vs 5.92±0.73mm, P<0.05) and LT (3.80±0.14mm vs 3.59±0.16mm, P<0.05). (4) AL (21.82±1.07 vs 22.68±1.61, P<0.05). (5) Parameters related to refractive state: SE (-2.43±3.56 vs -0.53±3.12, P<0.05) and BCVA (log MAR, 0.17±0.14 vs 0.21±0.18, P>0.05). 2. (1) The SE of children in the laser group was positively correlated with LT (r=0.438, P<0.05), negatively correlated with ACD (r=-0.437, P<0.05) and had no significant correlation with other eyeball biological indicators (P>0.05). (2) The SE of children in the injection group was negatively correlated with AL (r=-0.537, P<0.05), positively correlated with CCT (r=0.455, P<0.05) and had no significant correlation with other eyeball biological indicators (P>0.05).

CONCLUSION

LP and intravitreal ranibizumab injection as ROP treatments produce myopic refraction with increased degree of myopia in children who received LP than in children who received ranibizumab injection. The increased myopia after LP is due to the increases in LT and posterior lens curvature and a shallow ACD.

Genome-wide Association Study of Axial Length in Population-based Cohorts in Japan

Purpose

To elucidate the differences in ocular biometric parameters by generation and gender and to identify axial length (AL)-associated genetic variants in Japanese individuals, we analyzed Tohoku Medical Megabank Organization (ToMMo) Eye Study data.

Design

We designed the ToMMo Eye Study, examined AL variations, and conducted genome-wide association studies (GWASs).

Participants

In total, 33 483 participants aged > 18 years who were recruited into the community-based cohort (CommCohort) and the birth and three-generation cohort (BirThree Cohort) of the ToMMo Eye Study were examined.

Methods

Each participant was screened with an interview, ophthalmic examinations, and a microarray analysis. The GWASs were performed in 22 379 participants in the CommCohort (discovery stage) and 11 104 participants in the BirThree Cohort (replication stage). We evaluated the associations of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) with AL using a genome-wide significance threshold (5 × 10^-8) in each stage of the study and in the subsequent meta-analysis.

Main Outcome Measures

We identified the association of SNPs with AL and distributions of AL in right and left eyes and individuals of different sexes and ages.

Results

In the discovery stage, the mean AL of the right eye (23.99 mm) was significantly greater than that of the left eye (23.95 mm). This difference was reproducible across sexes and ages. The GWASs revealed 703 and 215 AL-associated SNPs with genome-wide significance in the discovery and validation stages, respectively, and many of the SNPs in the discovery stage were replicated in the validation stage. Validated SNPs and their associated loci were meta-analyzed for statistical significance (P < 5 × 10^-8). This study identified 1478 SNPs spread over 31 loci. Of the 31 loci, 5 are known AL loci, 15 are known refractive-error loci, 4 are known corneal-curvature loci, and 7 loci are newly identified loci that are not known to be associated with AL. Of note, some of them shared functional relationships with previously identified loci.

Conclusions

Our large-scale GWASs exploiting ToMMo Eye Study data identified 31 loci linked to variations in AL, 7 of which are newly reported in this article. The results revealed genetic heterogeneity and similarity in SNPs related to ethnic variations in AL.

Intraocular pressure and diurnal fluctuation of open-angle glaucoma and ocular hypertension: a baseline report from the LiGHT China trial cohort

AIMS

To report the baseline intraocular pressure (IOP) characteristics and its diurnal fluctuation in the Laser in Glaucoma and Ocular Hypertension China cohort.

METHODS

622 primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) patients and 149 ocular hypertension (OHT) patients were recruited at Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center from 2015 to 2019. Standardised ocular examinations were performed including IOP measurement using the Goldmann applanation tonometer. Daytime phasing IOP was recorded at 8:00, 10:00, 11:30, 14:30, 17:00 hour.

RESULTS

The mean baseline IOP was 20.2 mm Hg for POAG patients and 24.4 mm Hg for OHT. Multiple regression analysis revealed that thicker central corneal thickness (CCT) was correlated with higher IOP in both POAG and OHT. Male gender and younger age were correlated with higher IOP only for POAG. As for diurnal IOP fluctuation, mean IOP fluctuation was 3.4 mm Hg in POAG eyes and 4.4 mm Hg in OHT. The peak and trough IOP occurred at 8:00 and 14:30 hour in both POAG and OHT eyes.

CONCLUSIONS

Younger age, male gender and thicker CCT are correlated to higher IOP in POAG patients while only thicker CCT is related to higher IOP in OHT patients. Peak IOP appears mostly at early morning or late afternoon and trough value occurs mostly at early afternoon.

Interocular biometric parameters comparison measured with swept-source technology

PURPOSE

In the event that any ocular parameter involved in the calculation of intraocular lens power could not be properly measured in one eye, it is important to know whether clinically relevant differences between both eyes can be expected. The aim of this work is to evaluate the symmetry of interocular biometric parameters.

METHODS

This was a prospective, cross-sectional study involving 4090 subjects. Patients underwent consecutive swept-source optical biometry performed with an IOLMaster 700 (Carl Zeiss Meditec AG, Jena, Germany). The biometric parameters that were evaluated were: axial length (AL), mean anterior curvature (Rm), anterior chamber depth (ACD), crystalline lens thickness (LT), central corneal thickness (CCT) and white-to-white (WTW). The Chang-Waring chord distance (CWC-D) and the Chang-Waring chord angle (CWC-A) were also evaluated.

RESULTS

There is an excellent correlation between both eyes for almost all the biometric parameters under study, with the exception of the CWC. Agreement for AL was better for eyes shorter than 24 mm. The linearity of the OD-vs-OS relationship can be correctly assumed for all parameters (Cusum test: p > 0.05 in all cases).

CONCLUSION

There are no clinically significant interocular differences for the biometric parameters under study, although for all of them, except the LT, statistically significant differences did arise. In the case of AL, moderate differences can be expected in eyes larger than 24 mm.

Anisometropia of spherical equivalent and astigmatism among myopes: a 23-year follow-up study of prevalence and changes from childhood to adulthood

PURPOSE

To study anisometropia of spherical equivalent and astigmatism from the onset of myopia at school age to adulthood.

METHODS

A total of 240 myopic schoolchildren (mean age 10.9 years), with no previous spectacles, were recruited during 1983-1984 to a randomized 3-year clinical trial of bifocal treatment of myopia. Examinations with subjective cyclopedic refraction were repeated 3 years later (follow-up 1) for 238 subjects and thereafter at the mean ages of 23.2 (follow-up 2) and 33.9 years (follow-up 3) for 178 and 134 subjects. After exclusions, the 102 subjects who attended all three follow-ups were included in the analyses. Corneal refractive power and astigmatism and anterior chamber depth was measured with Pentacam topography and axial length with IOL master at study end. Prevalence and changes in anisometropia of spherical equivalent (AnisoSE) and astigmatism (AnisoAST) and their relationships with refractive and axial measures were studied.

RESULTS

Mean (±SD) of spherical equivalent (SE), AnisoSE and AnisoAST increased from baseline to follow-up end from -1.44 ± 0.57 D to -5.11 ± 2.23 D, from 0.28 ± 0.30 D to 0.68 ± 0.69 D and from 0.14 ± 0.18 D to 0.37 ± 0.36 D, respectively. Prevalence of AnioSE, ≥1 D, increased from 5% to 22.6% throughout follow-up. Higher AnisoSE was associated with SE in the less myopic eye at baseline and at follow-up 1, and with SE in the more myopic eye in follow-ups 2 and 3 in adulthood. At study end, AnisoSE was associated with the interocular difference in axial length (AL) (r = 0.612, p < 0.001) but not with the interocular difference in corneal refraction (CR) (r = -0.122, p = 0.266). In cases of low AnisoSE(≤1.00 D), the negative correlation between the real interocular differences (value of right eye minus value of left eye) in CR and AL (r = -0.427, p < 0.001) decreased the influence of the interocular difference in AL on AnisoSE, causing emmetropization in AnisoSE. The interocular difference in corneal astigmatism was the main factor associated with AnisoAST (r = 0.231, p = 0.020). No significant relationship was found between AnisoAST and level of SE.

CONCLUSION

Anisometropia of the spherical equivalent (AnisoSE) increased along with the myopic progression and at study end was mainly associated with the interocular difference in AL. AnisoAST was mainly explained by the interocular difference in corneal astigmatism. In cases with low AnisoSE (≤1.0 D), the interrelationship between CR and AL decreased AnisoSE causing emmetropization in AnisoSE.

Anisometropia of ocular refractive and biometric measures among 66- to 79-year-old female twins

PURPOSE

To examine the prevalence of anisometropia of spherical refraction (AnisoSR), astigmatism (AnisoAST) and spherical equivalent (AnisoSE) and their associations with spherical refraction (SR), refractive astigmatism (AST), spherical equivalent (SE) and interocular differences of ocular biometric parameters among elderly female twins.

METHODS

Refraction of 117 monozygotic (MZ) and 116 dizygotic (DZ) female twin subjects aged 66-79 years was assessed with an auto-refractor (Topcon AT) and controlled by subjective refraction. Corneal refraction, anterior chamber depth and axial length were measured with a Zeiss IOL Master. Participants with eyes operated for cataract or glaucoma were excluded, but the grade of nuclear opacity was not recorded. The associations between the absolute values of AnisoSR, AnisoAST and AnisoSE with SR, AST, SE, corneal refractive power (CR), corneal astigmatism (CAST), anterior chamber depth (ACD) and axial length (AL) and with their interocular differences were calculated. When calculating the interdependencies of the differences, the real and absolute differences between the right and left eye were used.

RESULTS

Means ± standard deviations for AnisoSR, AnisoAST and AnisoSE were 0.67 ± 0.92 D, 0.42 ± 0.41 D and 0.65 ± 0.71 D, respectively. AnisoSR, AnisoAST and AnisoSE >1.0 D were present in 14.7%, 4.2% and 17.7% of cases, respectively. Anisometropia of spherical refraction (AnisoSR), AnisoAST and AnisoSE were higher the more negative the values of SR or SE. Hyperopic ametropia did not increase these anisometropia values. The correlations of AnisoSR and AnisoSE with the absolute values of interocular differences in CR and AL were non-significant. Using the real values of the interocular differences, the respective correlations were significant. The correlation between the real interocular differences in CR and AL was negative (r = -0.258, p < 0.001). Thus, the combined effect of the real interocular differences in CR and AL was a decrease in AnisoSR and AnisoSE (emmetropization).

CONCLUSION

Higher AnisoSR and AnisoSE were associated with more myopic refraction and longer AL. Higher AnisoAST was associated with more negative SR and higher AST and CAST. The negative correlation between real interocular differences in CR and AL indicated their influence of emmetropization in AnisoSR and AnisoSE.

Frequency and Distribution of Refractive Error in Adult Life: Methodology and Findings of the UK Biobank Study

Purpose

To report the methodology and findings of a large scale investigation of burden and distribution of refractive error, from a contemporary and ethnically diverse study of health and disease in adults, in the UK.

Methods

U K Biobank, a unique contemporary resource for the study of health and disease, recruited more than half a million people aged 40–69 years. A subsample of 107,452 subjects undertook an enhanced ophthalmic examination which provided autorefraction data (a measure of refractive error). Refractive error status was categorised using the mean spherical equivalent refraction measure. Information on socio-demographic factors (age, gender, ethnicity, educational qualifications and accommodation tenure) was reported at the time of recruitment by questionnaire and face-to-face interview.

Results

Fifty four percent of participants aged 40–69 years had refractive error. Specifically 27% had myopia (4% high myopia), which was more common amongst younger people, those of higher socio-economic status, higher educational attainment, or of White or Chinese ethnicity. The frequency of hypermetropia increased with age (7% at 40–44 years increasing to 46% at 65–69 years), was higher in women and its severity was associated with ethnicity (moderate or high hypermetropia at least 30% less likely in non-White ethnic groups compared to White).

Conclusions

Refractive error is a significant public health issue for the UK and this study provides contemporary data on adults for planning services, health economic modelling and monitoring of secular trends. Further investigation of risk factors is necessary to inform strategies for prevention. There is scope to do this through the planned longitudinal extension of the UK Biobank study.