biostudies-literatureYii FSMedical Research Council1412-1418https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC10947352biostudies-literatureUnknown43(6)<h4>Purpose</h4>To compare axial length (AL) growth curves in East Asian (EA) and non-EA emmetropes.<h4>Methods</h4>A meta-regression of 28 studies with emmetrope-specific AL data (measured with optical biometry) was performed. Emmetropia was defined as spherical equivalent refraction (SER) between -0.50 and +1.25 D, determined under cycloplegia if the mean age was ≤20 years. The AL growth curve (mean AL vs. mean age) was first fitted to the full dataset using a weighted nonlinear mixed-effects model, before refitting the model with ethnicity as a two-level grouping variable (EA vs. non-EA). Ethnic differences in growth curve parameters were tested using the Wald test.<h4>Results</h4>A total of 3331 EA and 1071 non-EA emmetropes (mean age: 6.5-23.1 years) were included. There was no evidence of an ethnic difference in either final AL (difference: 0.15 mm, 95% CI: -0.04 to 0.35 mm, p = 0.15) or initial AL, as represented by the amount that the final AL needed to be offset to obtain the y-intercept (difference: -2.77 mm, 95% CI: -10.97 to 5.44, p = 0.51). Likewise, AL growth rate (curve steepness) did not differ between ethnic groups (difference: 0.09, 95% CI: -0.13 to 0.31, p = 0.43). Collectively, AL growth rate decreased from 0.24 mm/year at 6 years of age to around 0.05 mm/year at 11 years of age, after which it dipped below the repeatability of optical biometry (±0.04 mm) and practically plateaued around 16 years of age (final AL: 23.60 mm).<h4>Conclusions</h4>EA and non-EA emmetropes have comparable AL growth curves.Ophthalmic & physiological optics : the journal of the British College of Ophthalmic Opticians (Optometrists)Emmetropic eye growth in East Asians and non-East Asians.PMC10947352MR/N013166/1Yii FSfalseEmmetropic eye growth in East Asians and non-East Asians.<h4>Purpose</h4>To compare axial length (AL) growth curves in East Asian (EA) and non-EA emmetropes.<h4>Methods</h4>A meta-regression of 28 studies with emmetrope-specific AL data (measured with optical biometry) was performed. Emmetropia was defined as spherical equivalent refraction (SER) between -0.50 and +1.25 D, determined under cycloplegia if the mean age was ≤20 years. The AL growth curve (mean AL vs. mean age) was first fitted to the full dataset using a weighted nonlinear mixed-effects model, before refitting the model with ethnicity as a two-level grouping variable (EA vs. non-EA). Ethnic differences in growth curve parameters were tested using the Wald test.<h4>Results</h4>A total of 3331 EA and 1071 non-EA emmetropes (mean age: 6.5-23.1 years) were included. There was no evidence of an ethnic difference in either final AL (difference: 0.15 mm, 95% CI: -0.04 to 0.35 mm, p = 0.15) or initial AL, as represented by the amount that the final AL needed to be offset to obtain the y-intercept (difference: -2.77 mm, 95% CI: -10.97 to 5.44, p = 0.51). Likewise, AL growth rate (curve steepness) did not differ between ethnic groups (difference: 0.09, 95% CI: -0.13 to 0.31, p = 0.43). Collectively, AL growth rate decreased from 0.24 mm/year at 6 years of age to around 0.05 mm/year at 11 years of age, after which it dipped below the repeatability of optical biometry (±0.04 mm) and practically plateaued around 16 years of age (final AL: 23.60 mm).<h4>Conclusions</h4>EA and non-EA emmetropes have comparable AL growth curves.2023-01-01T00:00:00Z2023 Nov2026-06-14T05:33:37.852Z2025-02-19T03:08:23.292ZS-EPMC109473523736823910.1111/opo.13195