Measurement of Axial Length of the Eye
The distance from the surface of the eye to the surface of the retina is the axial length of the eye. It is an objective observation or measurement of the growth or elongation of the eyeball.
The axial length of a new-born baby is around 17 mm and approximates 24 mm in adulthood. When the eyeball grows too long, it becomes myopic (shortsighted) and if it is too short, as in a baby, it is hyperopic (longsighted). It is, thus, normal for a kid to be longtsighted.
As there is a strong correlation between the amount of myopia and the length of the eye, measurement of axial length has become very important and is essential in the study of myopia and myopia control.
Clinically, axial length measurements are used as a useful adjunct to refractive findings for monitoring myopia progression and evaluating the efficacy of myopia control.
