A research team from Beijing Tongren Hospital and other institutions recently published a significant study in Photodiagnosis and Photodynamic Therapy. They used Adaptive Optics Scanning Laser Ophthalmoscopy (AOSLO) to explore the relationship between cone mosaics and axial length, offering new perspectives on myopia - related research.

Myopia is a common global issue. Axial elongation, a major cause of myopia, has unclear impacts on cone photoreceptors. Since cone - related changes are linked to many eye diseases, understanding cone characteristics at different axial lengths is vital. AOSLO enables high - resolution in - vivo retinal imaging, facilitating this research.

Results showed that as axial length increased, linear cone density decreased at both 3° and 5° eccentricities. Cone spacing increased and was closely tied to density. Cone dispersion rose with longer axes and lower density, and some dispersion - density correlations remained after adjusting for axial length. Cone regularity was affected too, with positive density - related changes at 3° and a decrease at 5° temporal eccentricity as the axis lengthened.

This study established the first Chinese cone mosaic dataset, highlighting the link between axial length and cone features. AOSLO's effectiveness in the study shows its potential in ophthalmology. However, tear film interference and the absence of pathological myopia patients were limitations. Future research can address these by expanding samples and delving deeper into cone - myopia mechanisms. Overall, this research contributes to myopia prevention and treatment knowledge and may drive ophthalmology forward.