Longitudinal analysis of refraction and ocular biometrics in preschool children with early-onset high myopia

We investigated changes in refraction and ocular biometrics in preschool children with early-onset high myopia. Sixty eyes of 60 children with a mean follow-up time of 58.5 months were included in this study. At baseline, mean age of children was 55.6 ± 13.1 months, mean spherical equivalent (SE) was − 8.59 ± 2.66 D, and 25.64 ± 1.16 mm for axial length (AL). The total annual rate of myopic progression and axial elongation were − 0.37 ± 0.39 D/year and 0.33 ± 0.18 mm/year, respectively. During follow-up period, there was a trend toward less myopic progression and axial elongation over time. Of the total participants, 24 children (40%) were in the myopia progression group and the remaining 36 children (60%) were in the myopia stability group. In multiple linear regression analysis, baseline SE and AL were independently associated with myopic progression, while age, sex, and baseline AL-to-CR ratio were not related to myopic progression. According to the model, more myopic SE (β = − 0.186, P = 0.035) and longer AL (β = − 0.391, P = 0.008) at baseline were significantly associated with myopic progression. Myopia progression in preschoolers with high myopia tended to be relatively modest, with 60% of subjects exhibited myopic stability. Higher myopic SE, and longer AL at baseline were associated with myopic progression in preschool children with high myopia.