effect of corneal opacity in childhood on axial globe length in adulthood

purpose: to evaluate the effect of childhood corneal opacity on the anteroposterior length of the globe in adulthood. methods: twenty-three patients with significant unilateral corneal opacity which had developed before the age of 6 years and the normal fellow eyes (controls) were evaluated. a comprehensive ocular examination including measurement of anterioposterior length and anterior chamber depth was performed. results: mean age was 65.9±12.9 years. mean axial length was 25.45±2.47 mm in affected eyes vs 22.85±3.34 mm in normal fellow eyes (p=0.001). the difference in axial length was attributed to elongation of the vitreous cavity in affected eyes (18.91±2.82 vs 15.71±2.73 mm, p<0.001). conclusion: corneal opacity in childhood can result in axial myopia in adulthood due to elongation of the posterior segment.