Influence of environment and genetic factors on axis length in children and adolescents
10.16835/j.cnki.1000-9817.2026181
- VernacularTitle:环境及遗传因素对儿童青少年眼轴长度的影响
- Author:
ZHENG Jie, ZHANG Jian, FENG Lixia
1
Author Information
1. Department of Ophthalmology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, Anhui Province, China
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
Environment;
Genes;
Axial length;
Child;
Adolescent
- From:
Chinese Journal of School Health
2026;47(6):869-872
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
Objective:To investigate the heritability of axial length (AL) by comparing the consistency of AL in monozygotic (MZ) and dizygotic (DZ) twins, thereby providing data support for research on the genetic mechanisms and prevention and control practices of myopia in children and adolescents.
Methods:A total of 137 twin pairs aged 3 to 16 years who attended the Optometry Center of the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University from January 2021 to December 2024 were enrolled, comprising 79 DZ pairs and 58 MZ pairs. Biometry was used to measure children s axial length, and structural equation modeling within the OpenMx package was applied to calculate the heritability of axial length.
Results:The overall mean axial length of the twin cohort was (23.7±1.5) mm. The intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) for axial length in all twins was 0.82 (95% CI =0.76-0.87) ( P < 0.05 ). The ICC for MZ twins was 0.97 (95% CI =0.94-0.98), which was higher than that for DZ twins ( ICC =0.71, 95% CI =0.58-0.80) (both P <0.05). Maximum likelihood estimation using OpenMx revealed that the additive genetic plus unique environmental (AE) model provided the best fit. Specifically, additive genetic factors (A) accounted for 93.63% (95% CI =90.31%-95.69%) of the total variance, while unique environmental factors (E) accounted for 6.37% (95% CI =4.31%-9.69%).
Conclusion:Axial length in children is predominantly influenced by genetic factors, while unique environmental factors also play a contributory role.
