title: Histologic differences between primary high myopia and secondary high myopia due to congenital glaucoma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To search for histomorphometric differences between eyes with primary high myopia (PHM) or secondary high axial myopia (SHM) caused by congenital glaucoma, and non-highly myopic eyes (NHM).
  
  
  METHODS
  Histologic anterior-posterior sections were histomorphometrically examined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The investigation included 58 human globes (mean age: 61.5 ± 18.5 years; axial length: 27.3 ± 4.0 mm; range: 21.0-39.0 mm). Bruch's membrane thickness was thinner in SHM than in PHM (posterior pole: p = 0.007; parapapillary region: p = 0.007); midpoint posterior pole/equator = 0.05) and thinner in SHM than in NHM (all p < 0.04), while PHM and NHM did not differ (all p > 0.50). Choroidal thickness did not differ (all p ≥ 0.40) at any measurement location between SHM and PHM, and was thinner (p < 0.05) in both myopic groups than in NHM. Posterior sclera was thinner (p < 0.001) in both myopic groups than in NHM, with no significant difference between both myopic groups. Pars plana scleral thickness was thinner (p = 0.02) in SHM than in PHM after adjusting for axial length. Scleral volume (p = 0.41) and choroidal volume (p = 0.74) did not differ between any of the groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Thinning of Bruch's membrane overall is typical for SHM while eyes with PHM have a normal Bruch's membrane thickness. It may point to Bruch's membrane as an active part in the process of emmetropization/myopization. SHM in contrast to PHM showed scleral thinning in the pars plana region suggesting that the process of emmetropization/myopization takes place posterior to the pars plana. Both SHM and PHM unspecifically showed an axial length associated with thinning of choroid and posterior sclera, while both myopic groups did not differ with NHM in choroidal and scleral volume.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany.
authors.forename: Jost B
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0003-2972-5227
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Jonas
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany.
authors.forename: Leonard
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Holbach
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany.
authors.forename: Songhomitra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Panda-Jonas
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D058452:Axial Length, Eye / Q000473:pathology; D016570:Bruch Membrane / Q000473:pathology*; D002829:Choroid / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D006871:Hydrophthalmos / Q000150:complications*; D007429:Intraocular Pressure; D008875:Middle Aged; D047728:Myopia, Degenerative / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology*; D009898:Optic Disk / Q000473:pathology; D012590:Sclera / Q000473:pathology
keywords: choroidal thickness; congenital glaucoma; emmetropization; high myopia; myopia; myopization; ocular elongation; scleral thickness