Changes in axial length and other dimensions on the eyeball with increasing age

A significant reduction in axial length of the eyeball with increasing age was found when one essentially normal eye of each of 72 persons was studied (p < 0.01). In 53 of these subjects, the horizontal diameter of the cornea also became less with increasing age (p < 0.01). Lens thickness became greater and anterior chamber depth less (p < 0.001 each). “Against‐the‐rule”, rather than “with‐the‐rule” corneal astigmatism was found in old age (p < 0.001). It is suggested that such a reduction in size of cornea and of the whole eyeball with increasing age would contribute to the shallowness of the anterior chamber in old age and in angle‐closure glaucoma. A reduction in the total circumference of the trabecular meshwork available for the escape of aqueous and also a diminution in calibre of the scleral openings concerned in uveo‐scleral bulk flow would also result from a reduction in size of cornea and sclera. 1972 Institution Acta Ophthalmologica Scandinavica