Anterior segment structural changes across myopia severity and their association with myopia progression: A large-scale clinical analysis

Abstract

Objective

This study aims to investigate the variations in anterior segment parameters among patients with different degrees of myopia and explore their impact on myopia progression.

Methods

A retrospective analysis was conducted on ocular parameters of 4392 patients who underwent myopia correction surgery at the affiliated hospital of Southwest Medical University from January 2019 to January 2023. The patients were categorized into mild, moderate, and high myopia groups based on the severity of their myopia. Measurements of corneal thickness (CCT), intraocular pressure (IOP), axial length (AL), steep corneal curvature (Ks), flat corneal curvature (Kf), white-to-white corneal diameter (WTW), pupil diameter under bright conditions (LPD), pupil diameter under dark-adapted conditions (DPD), corneal volume (CV), anterior chamber volume (ACV), anterior chamber depth (ACD), and Kappa angle values (Kx and Ky) were performed and analyzed using SPSS 28.0 software.

Results

Significant differences were observed in most of the aforementioned parameters among patients with different degrees of myopia. With increasing myopia severity, CCT, IOP, AL, Ks, Kf, CV, ACV, ACD, and Ky exhibited a gradual increase (all P < 0.05), while WTW and DPD showed a gradual decrease (all P < 0.05). Kx and LPD did not exhibit statistically significant differences (P > 0.05). Correlation analysis revealed significant positive correlations between IOP and the degree of myopia (OR = 1.02, P = 0.005), WTW and the degree of myopia (OR = 0.47, P < 0.001), ACV and the degree of myopia (OR = 1.01, P < 0.001), and significant negative correlations between ACD and the degree of myopia (OR = 0.83, P = 0.031). Ky showed a significant positive correlation with the degree of myopia (OR = 2.55, P < 0.001). These findings provide further evidence of the association between ocular parameters and myopia progression.

Conclusion

Significant differences exist in anterior segment parameters among patients with varying degrees of myopia, which may be related to myopia progression. Further investigation into the relationship between these parameters and the development of myopia will contribute to a better understanding of the underlying mechanisms and provide a theoretical basis for scientific myopia prevention and control.