Acta Biomedica Scientia

CHILDREN'S CORRELATION ANALYSIS AND CORNEAL BIOMECHANICAL FEATURES IN VARIOUS REFRACTIVE STATES

Jayanth Abhinandan1, Chandana2

The increasing prevalence of myopia among children has raised concerns due to its association with ocular complications and progressive visual impairment. This study aimed to evaluate corneal biomechanical parameters in children aged 5–13 years, stratified by refractive status (emmetropia, mild myopia, and moderate myopia) and age groups (5–7 years, 8–10 years, and 11–13 years). By analyzing key parameters such as axial length (AL), deformation amplitude (DA) ratio, and second flattening velocity (A2V), the study sought to elucidate structural and biomechanical changes associated with myopia progression. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on children aged 5–13 years. Participants were classified based on their refractive status and age. Axial length (AL), spherical equivalent (SE), and corneal biomechanical parameters were measured using standard diagnostic tools. Data were analyzed to identify differences across refractive and age groups. Results: Axial length increased significantly with the severity of myopia and age, while the spherical equivalent shifted towards more negative values. Moderate myopia was associated with a higher DA ratio and lower A2V, indicating increased corneal deformability and reduced stiffness. Age-related changes in peak distance (PD) and A2V were also observed, with the older age group showing higher PD and lower A2V. However, parameters such as tomographic biomechanical index (TBI) and corneal biomechanics index (CBI) showed no significant variation across groups. Conclusion: The study highlights significant differences in corneal biomechanical parameters and axial elongation across refractive and age groups in children. These findings underscore the importance of integrating corneal biomechanical assessments into routine pediatric eye care, particularly for monitoring and managing myopia progression. Early identification of biomechanical changes could enhance the efficacy of myopia control strategies.