Myopia could be easier to assess thanks to research at Flinders University, which has identified a new method to measure how it affects the eye.

Published in PLOS ONE, ‘The correlation between optical coherence tomography retinal shape irregularity and axial length’ study saw ophthalmology and medical device research experts taking a novel approach with optical coherence tomography (OCT) on 70 study volunteers.

"Our work uses the OCT and finds irregularities at this scale that correlate with the size of the eye, and therefore the degree of myopia," said Dr Stewart Lake of Flinders University.

"This may help monitor, measure, and explore the effects of myopia and how it leads to vision loss." He said further development could make the system suitable for use in regular clinical practice.

Previous research, with MRI scanning, has demonstrated large scale irregularities in the eyeball in highly myopic eyes. OCT can sample the shape of the eye on a much smaller scale than MRI. The OCT testing will be far cheaper, is more readily available and repeatable as a test, said researchers.