Can the human eye axial length decrease?
Generally the axial length doesn't decrease:
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Although there is discussion of various conditions where it has been observed to decrease, i.e. nanophthalmos, microphthalmos, and retinoblastoma... A review of current research is here: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5501611/ quote:
It is considered that the axial length reaches adult length by the age of 13 years, showing no further increase in length. Recent cross-sectional studies found that the axial length in older adults tended to be shorter, suggesting that it may decrease with aging. However, in a recent longitudinal study by He et al., slight increase of the axial length in adults (mean refractive error, −0.44 ± 2.21 diopters) was reported. Conversely, an increase in the axial length in adults with highly myopic eyes is common and has been previously shown in longitudinal studies [5–7]. However, to the best of our knowledge, there have been no studies directly comparing the increase in the axial length in adults with non-highly myopic eyes or highly myopic eyes. In addition, because previous studies on the axial length in highly myopic eyes have not compared between eyes with and without macular complications, their influence on the axial length remains unknown.
Can myopia be treated with a reduction in axial length? Presumably, yes it could, if opticians had figured a way to do it... Do you suggest that a drug or a medical intervention can flatten the entire eyeball a bit? perhaps a drug could but it would reduce the entire eyeball, you'd have to find a way to administer it. Apparently doctors haven't researched that option, but perhaps they will in future. Laser currently seems like a better way.
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