AIM: To explore the related factors that affect the subfoveal choroidal thickness(SFCT)of children with low to moderate myopia.

METHODS: A cross-sectional study. We selected children aged 6-12 who were diagnosed as myopia in the Department of Ophthalmology of the Affiliated Xuzhou Municipal Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University from October to December 2020, according to the spherical equivalent refraction(SER), 60 patients(60 eyes)with low myopia of -0.75 to -3.00D and 50 patients(50 eyes)with moderate myopia of -3.25 to -6.00D, which was obtained by cycloplegic refraction. All participants conducted ophthalmic examination, including measurements of SFCT, subfoveal retinal thickness(SFRT), axial length(AL), and parameters of ocular accommodation. Children's age, sex, parental myopia, height and weight were collected. The relationship between SFCT and various factors was investigated.

RESULTS: The average SFCT of the low and moderate myopia were 273.30±44.93 and 237.16±48.56μm(P<0.01), respectively. Pearson's correlation analysis showed that SFCT was statistically related to SER, AL and height(r=0.35, -0.45, -0.19, all P<0.05), and no statistical correlation with other factors(all P>0.05). Multiple linear regression showed that SFCT became thinner as AL became longer(B= -19.87, P<0.01).

CONCLUSION:SFCT in children with low to moderate myopia was statistically related to SER, AL and height, but it was not notably related to other factors. AL was the most significant factor affecting SFCT.