Relation between Axial Length, Refraction and Intra-Ocular Pressure among Children

Background: We assessed the methods used to measure IOP, refraction, and axial length in order to determine the relation between these three variables in children. Aim: To estimate refractive error, AL and IOP among children of both sexes versus emmetropic age and sex matched children. Methods: Prospective, comparative, cross sectional study involved a randomly selected two hundred and forty-six eyes (246) of 123 school-aged child. They were classified into three groups each of 82 eyes (41 children) according to refractive error. Results: There is a positive correlation between axial length and refractive error of the studied eyes. There is a strong positive correlation (r = 0.7704, p = 0.000). We found also, a negative correlation between axial length and intraocular pressure of the studied eyes. There is a weak significant negative correlation (r = 0.2198, p = 0.038).Conclusion: Refractive errors, axial length and intraocular pressure may be linked together, as refractive error depends on AL, the more elongated AL, the more myopia and the more shortening of AL, the more hyperopia. Also, IOP may affect AL and AL more or less affects IOP.