Additional Tests: Axial Length

Myopia and particularly high myopia can cause many changes to the retina and increased risk for glaucoma and retinal detachments. The refraction gives some insight to the degree of myopia, however, the axial length measurement is more beneficial. The higher the axial length, the greater the stretching and thinning of the retina. Studies have shown that with higher axial length eyes, there is a higher prevalence of glaucomatous optic neuropathies.20

Graph showing the distribution of the prevalence of glaucomatous optic neuropathy and axial length.