Purpose: To examine the relationship between axial length and refractive error in patients with X-linked retinoschisis.
Design: To determine whether the hypermetropia frequently found in patients with X-linked retinoschisis is axial hypermetropia.
Methods: The axial length and refractive error were measured in 29 right eyes of 29 patients. The patients were divided into two groups: a juvenile group with ages <13 years (12 eyes) and an adult group with ages > or =13 years (17 eyes). The axial length of the right eye of 30 adult men without eye diseases whose refractive error ranged from +/- 1.0 diopter served as controls.
Results: In the adult patient group, the refractive error was significantly more hypermetropic and the axial length was significantly shorter than was the normal adult group (P <.001).
Conclusion: These results strongly suggest that the hypermetropia in patients with X-linked retinoschisis is axial hypermetropia.