Association Between Body Stature with Ocular Biometrics and Refraction among Chinese Preschoolers

Purpose: To evaluate the association of body stature with ocular biometrics and refraction in preschool children. Methods: A cross-sectional, school-based study was conducted in Shenzhen, China. Preschool children aged 3 to 6 from 10 randomly-selected kindergartens were recruited. Ocular biometric parameters were measured using non-contact partial-coherence laser interferometry. Cycloplegic refractions were obtained by a desktop autorefractor. Body height and weight were measured using standard procedures. Results: A total of 373 preschoolers were included. Only the right eyes were analyzed. Ocular biometrics, including axial length (AL), anterior chamber depth (ACD), vitreous chamber depth (VCD), corneal radius curvature (CR), and axial length to corneal radius ratio (AL-to-CR ratio), were positively associated with height and weight (p<0.05), whereas lens thickness (LT) was negatively associated with height and weight (p<0.01). No association was observed between stature and central cornea thickness and refraction. After adjusted for age and gender in a multivariable regression model, AL had positive associations with height (p<0.01) and weight (p<0.01). However, refraction had no significant association with stature parameters. Conclusion: Taller and heavier preschoolers had eyes with longer AL, deeper vitreous chamber, and flatter cornea. The significant associations between body stature and ocular biometric parameters reveal the driving influence of body development on the growth of eyeballs in preschoolers.