Potential dynamic corneal response parameters for myopia: relationships between axial length with whole eye movement at the first and second applanations and the highest concavity.

PURPOSE

To investigate the correlation between whole eye movement (WEM) parameters measured using Corvis ST and axial length (AL) to explore whether AL affects WEMs.

METHODS

This single-center, cross-sectional study included data from healthy subjects and patients preparing for refractive surgery at the Qingdao Eye Hospital of Shandong First Medical University. Data were collected from July 2021 to April 2022. We first determined the correlations of WEMs at the time of corneal first applanation (A1_WEM), highest concavity (HC_WEM), and second applanation (A2_WEM), as well as the maximum value of WEM (WEM_Max) with AL. Subsequently, we established a series of regression models to analyze the relationships between different WEM values and AL.

RESULTS

AL was negatively correlated with HC_WEM, A2_WEM, and WEM_Max (r = - 0.28, - 0.23, and - 0.22, respectively; P < 0.001). The correlation between AL and A1_WEM was not significant (P = 0.77). According to the adjusted regression models, AL was negatively associated with HC_WEM (Model 2: β = -7.39, P < 0.001) and WEM_Max (Model 4: β = -3.52, P = 0.02), while the associations of AL with A1_WEM (Model 1: P = 0.61) and A2_WEM (Model 3: P = 0.23) were not significant.

CONCLUSIONS

AL is an independent negative influencing factor for HC_WEM. WEM is a potentially useful parameter that reflects the biomechanical properties of the eye behind the cornea in myopia.