Changes of Anterior Segment in Myopic Eyes: Analysis with Scheimpflug System

Summary

The relations of the cornea, anterior chamber depth (ACD), and angle structures to myopia have not been studied extensively. We analyzed each of these parameters using an anterior segment image processing technique that applies the Scheimpflug principle. A total of 117 young high myopic [≥-8.0 diopters (D)] patients and 32 low myopic (<- 3.0 D) subjects were studied. Each patient was analyzed for refractive status and axial length. The EAS-1000 (Nidek) was used to measure the parameters. The results showed no significant difference of central corneal thickness between the high myopic and low myopic eyes. The corneal radius slightly correlated with increasing axial length but did not correlate with refractive status. The corneal radius of the high myopic subjects become steeper than that of the low myopic eyes only among males. The ACD was slightly deeper in high myopic eyes than in low myopic eyes. The widths of four anterior chamber angles also did not correlate with increasing myopia, but the temporal side of the chamber angle was wider in high myopic eyes. These results suggested that there was only a slight change in the anterior segment in high myopic eyes.