RETINA
ASSOCIATION OF TESSELLATION DENSITY WITH PROGRESSION OF AXIAL LENGTH AND REFRACTION IN CHILDREN: An Artificial Intelligence-Assisted 4-Year Study
To investigate fundus tessellation density (TD) and its association with axial length (AL) elongation and spherical equivalent (SE) progression in children.
Methods:
The school-based prospective cohort study enrolled 1,997 individuals aged 7 to 9 years in 11 elementary schools in Mojiang, China. Cycloplegic refraction and biometry were performed at baseline and 4-year visits. The baseline fundus photographs were taken, and TD, defined as the percentage of exposed choroidal vessel area in the photographs, was quantified using an artificial intelligence–assisted semiautomatic labeling approach. After the exclusion of 330 ineligible participants because of loss to follow-up or ineligible fundus photographs, logistic models were used to assess the association of TD with rapid AL elongation (>0.36 mm/year) and SE progression (>1.00 D/year).
Results:
The prevalence of tessellation was 477 of 1,667 (28.6%) and mean TD was 0.008 ± 0.019. The mean AL elongation and SE progression in 4 years were 0.90 ± 0.58 mm and −1.09 ± 1.25 D. Higher TD was associated with longer baseline AL (β, 0.030; 95% confidence interval: 0.015–0.046; P