Distribution of axial length in Chinese congenital ectopia lentis patients: a retrospective study

BACKGROUND Congenital ectopia lentis (CEL) usually leads to refractive error and may influence the axial length development. But few investigations have reported patient demographics and the distribution of axial length (AL) before surgery in Chinese pediatric patients with CEL. To describe the distribution of AL before surgery in CEL patients and its relationship with patients' demographics, such as age, Marfan syndrome, sex, and laterality. METHODS This retrospective study reviewed 306 CEL patients from January 1, 2006 to December 31, 2015. One eye was randomly selected from each patient if both eyes were EL. The influences of Marfan syndrome, sex, and laterality to AL in different age subgroups were evaluated and compared. The differences of the AL between groups were assessed using the student t test or paired t-test. P-values less than 0.05 were considered statistically significant. RESULTS Two hundred forty-seven eyes were enrolled. 58.3% of all the patients had binoculus EL, 70% of all the patients were male and 36% of all the patients were diagnosed with Marfan syndrome. The mean AL of EL patients was 25.1 ± 2.5 mm. There was no statistical difference in the AL between patients with and without Marfan syndrome, and in the AL between male and female patients. There was statistical difference in AL between the EL-affected eye and the unaffected eye in monocular EL patients younger than 12 years old. CONCLUSIONS This study suggests that AL can be influenced by CEL, but the influence of CEL may be reduced after the age of 12 years old, which will likely provide a useful reference when considering the most appropriate time of surgery.