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Association of intraocular pressure with ocular parameters in 14-18-year-old Chinese junior high students: the Anyang Childhood Eye Study

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: To examine the associations between intraocular pressure (IOP) and various ocular parameters among adolescents in central China. This cross-sectional study included 2,267 participants from 40 classes across four junior high schools. Measurements of central corneal thickness (CCT), corneal curvature, anterior chamber depth (ACD), and axial length (AL) were performed using the Lenstar 900. Cycloplegic refractive state was assessed with an automatic optometer, while IOP was measured using a non-contact tonometer. A total of 1,720 participants with valid data were included in the final analysis. The mean age was 15.39 ± 1.09 years, and 52% of participants were male. The mean CCT was 549.98 ± 32.586 μm, with males having a significantly higher mean CCT (552.47 ± 33.011 μm) compared to females (547.63 ± 32.043 μm) (t = 4.358, P < 0.001). The mean IOP was 15.39 ± 2.45 mmHg. IOP was significantly correlated with CCT (r = 0.390, P < 0.001), with regression analysis indicating a 0.37 mmHg increase in IOP for every 10 μm increase in CCT (y = -4.271 + 0.037x, P < 0.001). Additionally, IOP was positively associated with refractive error (r = 0.076, P < 0.001), AL (r = 0.088, P < 0.001) and corneal curvature (r = -0.025, P < 0.001), while no significant association was observed with ACD (r = 0.023, P = 0.207). Male participants had higher mean values for CCT, AL, and ACD, while female participants had greater corneal curvature. In this cross-sectional study of Chinese adolescents, IOP demonstrated significant positive associations with CCT, refractive error, and AL, but no significant association with ACD. Additionally, sex-based differences were observed in key ocular parameters, highlighting the need to consider sex variations in ocular health assessments. These findings underscore the importance of considering CCT when interpreting IOP measurements in younger populations. This pioneering study investigates sex differences in ocular biometric parameters—IOP, CCT, AL, ACD, and corneal curvature—among junior high school students in central China, addressing a previously underexplored demographic. The research reveals that, although female students exhibited slightly higher IOP, the difference was not statistically significant, suggesting that hormonal influences on IOP may be less pronounced during adolescence. A significant finding is that male students have thicker central corneas, longer axial lengths, deeper anterior chambers, and flatter corneal curvatures compared to females, aligning with patterns observed in other regions and indicating consistent sex-related ocular development trends. The study identifies a significant correlation between refractive error and IOP, particularly in myopic individuals, while noting that sex differences in IOP across refractive categories are minimal, highlighting the complexity of factors influencing IOP in adolescents.

Source: BMC Ophthalmology

DOI: 10.1186/s12886-025-04566-y