Abstract
Background: To investigate the impact of axial length (AL) and ocular factors on axial length elongation (ALE).
Methods: A retrospective chart review of patients who underwent more than two axial length examinations using a single instrument
Results: The mean age of the participants was 47.21 ± 7.79 years. Eyes were classified into four groups according to their initial AL measurement. AL remained almost unchanged in the groups with AL < 26mm. On the contrary, AL increased by 0.011mm/year in the group with 26 ≤ AL < 28mm and 0.035mm/year in the group with AL ≥ 28mm (P < .001). In high myopia, ALE increased in eyes with longer axial lengths (r = 0.003, P = .024), females (r = 0.014, P = .019), eyes with larger peripapillary chorioretinal atrophic areas (r = 0.002, P = .019), and smaller vascular arcade angles (r = -0.004, P = .006). The risk of elongation 0.03mm/year in high myopia was increased in females (OR = 2.265, P = .040), and gradually increased in eyes with large peripapillary chorioretinal atrophy area (OR = 5.604, 6.939, and 7.470, respectively; P = .001, < .001, and .008, respectively)
Conclusions: AL remained almost unchanged in the group with AL < 26mm. On the contrary, ALE was observed in the group with AL ≥ 26mm. AL elongated significantly in eyes with longer AL, female, and eyes with larger atrophic areas and smaller arcade angles on fundus photographs.