Lens-induced myopization and body weight in young guinea pigs

Background To investigate the relationship between body weight and Axial length in guinea pigs. Methods Forty pigmented guinea pigs were randomly divided into two groups, namely control group and negative lens-induced myopization (LIM) group. After measuring the baseline axial length and body weight (BW), guinea pigs of LIM group received bilateral negative lens-induced myopization using − 10.0 diopters lenses. One week later, the lenses were removed and biometric and ophthalmoscopic examinations were repeated. Results Two groups of guinea pigs showed no statistical difference in initial body weight and eye axis length. Compared to the control group, the lens-induced group had a lower weight ( P = 0.02) and a longer axial length ( P < 0.01) at the end of study Neither at baseline nor at week 1 did AL correlate with BW in both groups (Control Baseline: r = 0.306, P = 0.19; Control Week1: r = 0.333, P = 0.15; LIM Baseline: r =-0.142, P = 0.55; LIM Week 1: r = 0.189, P = 0.42). Lens-induction had a significant effect on axial elongation ( P < 0.01) while body weight had no impact on such aspect ( P > 0.05). Conclusion In guinea pigs of the same age, axial length was not correlated with body weight. Also, baseline body weight had no impact on natural axial length growth or lens-induced myopia. Lens-induction caused a significant reduction in body weight gain.