Association between stature, ocular biometry and refraction in an adult population in rural Myanmar: the Meiktila eye study.

Purpose: To study the association between adult stature and ocular biometric parameters and refraction.

Methods: In a population-based cross-sectional ophthalmic survey of 2418 adults (> or = 40 years old) living in the rural villages in central Myanmar, height and weight were measured using a standardized protocol, and body mass index was calculated. Non-cycloplegic refraction and corneal curvature were determined by an autorefractor. Ultrasound pachymetry was performed and ocular biometry, including axial length, anterior chamber depth, lens thickness and vitreous chamber length were measured using A-mode ocular ultrasonography.

Results: Height and weight were significantly correlated with age, gender and all the ocular biometric parameters, except lens thickness. After adjusting for age and gender, taller and heavier persons had eyes with longer axial length, deeper anterior and vitreous chambers, and flatter and thicker corneas than shorter persons. Height was not significantly correlated with refraction, and heavier persons tended to be less myopic (P < 0.001). Multivariate linear regression models revealed consistent results with the findings for association between height, weight and ocular biometry and refractive error.

Conclusions: Adult stature is independently associated with vitreous chamber length and corneal radius in this Burmese population. Heavier persons were slightly hyperopic.