Echobiometric study of ocular growth in patients with amblyopia

Background: The natural evolution toward emmetropia is governed by genetic factors, but experiments with animals have demonstrated that a feedback mechanism that depends on visual function may regulate ocular growth. We attempted to verify this hypothesis in school-age patients with amblyopia by observing the ocular growth and the refractive state in the fixating and nonfixating eye in myopia and hypermetropia. This situation simulates the animal model. Methods: In 30 consecutive school-age patients with amblyopia, we prospectively evaluated axial length with echobiometry and the refractive state during cycloplegia induced by atropine. Results: We found a statistically significant increase in axial length in the fixating eye of patients with hypermetropia compared with the amblyopic eye (P = .0008). In patients with myopia, we found less of an increase in axial length in the fixating eye compared with the amblyopic eye (P = .0048). Conclusion: Good vision seems to influence the evolution of ocular growth toward emmetropization.