Vitreous chamber depth as part of axial elongation in pediatric myopia.

BACKGROUND: This study explored the connections between axial length (AL) and other ocular parameters, including central corneal thickness (CCT), aqueous chamber depth (AD), lens thickness (LT), and vitreous chamber depth (VCD), during myopia progression in children. METHODS: This study was conducted on a Chinese pediatric population, comprising 42 participants in a prospective cohort and 406 participants in a retrospective study. Standardized protocols were used to measure ocular parameters. Statistical analyses included descriptive statistics, t-tests, ANOVA, and correlation analyses to compare parameters across AL subgroups. RESULTS: Significant positive proportional relationships were observed between AL and VCD (R² = 0.97), and moderate correlations with AD (R² = 0.49) and LT (R² = 0.30). No significant correlation was found between AL and CCT (R² = 0.00). Longer AL was associated with increased VCD and AD and a decrease in LT. Regular monitoring of AL, and particularly VCD, provides a sensitive measure of ongoing myopia progression and can be used to track its dynamics. CONCLUSIONS: VCD is the primary component associated with AL elongation in pediatric myopia, with minimal contributions from AD and LT. Regular monitoring of AL and VCD may improve the assessment of myopia progression and support personalized intervention strategies.