AIM: To investigatethe relation between axial length(AL), age and ocular parameters.

METHODS: A total of 360 subjects(360 eyes)with emmetropia or myopia were recruited. Refraction, center corneal thickness(CCT), AL, intraocular pressure(IOP)were measured by automatic-refractor, Pachymeter, A-mode ultrasound and non-contact tonometer, respectively. Corneal curvature(CC), anterior chamber depth(ACD)and white-to-white distance(WWD)were measured by Orbscan II. Three dimensional frequency domain coherent optical tomography(3D-OCT)was used to examine the retinal nerve fiber layer thickness(RNFLT). The Pearson correlation coefficient(r)and multiple regression analysis were performed to evaluate the relationship between AL, age and ocular parameters.

RESULTS: The average AL was 24.15±1.26mm. With elongation of the AL, spherical equivalent(SE)(r=-0.742,P<0.01), CC(r=-0.395, P<0.01)and RNFLT(r=-0.374, P<0.01)all decreased, while the mean ACD(r=0.411, P<0.01)increased. On the contrary, there was not statistical significan with CCT(r=0.099, P=0.060)and WWD(r=0.061, P=0.252). There was also a significant correlation between AL and age(P=0.001), SE(P<0.001), ACD(P<0.001), CC(P<0.001)in Multiple linear regression analysis.

CONCLUSION: In longer eyes, there is a tendency toward myopia, a flatter cornea, a deeper ACD and a thinner RNFLT. Age is an influencing factor for the AL as well.