The autonomic control of accommodation and implications for human myopia development: a review

Effects of Acute Mental Stress on Choroidal Thickness

Purpose: Previous studies have indicated an association between education and myopia, suggesting that numerous stress events during the educational process may influence eye health. This study aimed to investigate the impact of mental stress induced by mental arithmetic (MA) on choroidal thickness (CT). Methods: This study included 33 participants aged between 19 and 29 years. Swept-source optical coherence tomography (SS-OCT) was used to capture images of the posterior segment of the left eye during baseline and MA to assess changes in the CT. After denoising and compensation, the baseline images and MA images that had been rigidly registered and resampled to the baseline images were segmented using a deep learning-based method. Based on the segmentation results, the CT within the regions of 1 mm and 3 mm diameter centered at the lowest point of the fovea was calculated. Results: Significant increases were observed in both CT1mm and CT3mm during MA, with mean changes of 2.742 ± 7.098 μm (p = 0.034) and 3.326 ± 6.143 μm (p < 0.001), respectively. Conclusions: Thickening of the choroid has been observed during acute mental stress. We speculate that long-term or chronic mental stress could have a potential adverse impact on myopia progression.

Effects of virtual distant viewing technology on preventing nearwork-induced ocular parameter changes

Purpose

This study investigates whether virtual distant viewing technology can prevent nearwork-induced ocular parameter changes.

Methods

Twenty-six volunteers read a textbook on one day and the same content on a virtual distant viewing display on another day based on a randomization sequence, with both reading sessions at 33 cm for 4 hours. Visual acuity, diopter, ocular biology, visual fatigue, and accommodative function before and after the nearwork, as well as the number of pages read, were recorded.

Results

After 4 hours of nearwork in the textbook group, the spherical equivalent refraction decreased from -3.13 ± 2.65 D to -3.32 ± 2.70 D (P < 0.001), corneal thickness decreased from 531.6 ± 33.5 μm to 528.9 ± 33.0 μm (P = 0.015), anterior chamber depth decreased from 3.65 ± 0.35 mm to 3.60 ± 0.30 mm (P = 0.002), accommodative facility increased from 15.1 ± 3.5 to 16.4 ± 3.9 (P = 0.018), and subjective visual fatigue increased from 14.0 ± 9.2 to 19.3 ± 7.6 (P = 0.002); no significant changes were seen in the other parameters. In the virtual distant viewing group, the spherical equivalent refraction (from -3.17 ± 2.60 D to -3.11 ± 2.73 D, P = 0.427), corneal thickness (from 531.9 ± 32.8 μm to 529.7 ± 33.2 μm, P = 0.054), and anterior chamber depth (from 3.67 ± 0.35 mm to 3.69 ± 0.32 mm, P = 0.331) did not show significant changes, whereas accommodative facility increased from 14.7 ± 5.8 to 15.9 ± 5.5 (P = 0.042) and subjective visual fatigue increased from 13.5 ± 8.4 to 18.9 ± 8.6 (P = 0.002). In addition, choroidal thickness (from 217.7 ± 76.0 μm to 243.0 ± 85.0 μm, P = 0.043), positive relative accommodation (from -2.32 ± 1.07 D to -2.85 ± 0.89 D, P = 0.007), and amplitude of accommodation (from 7.26 ± 1.41 D to 7.89 ± 1.69 D, P = 0.022) also significantly increased in the virtual distant viewing group. The textbook group and the virtual distant viewing group read 176.0 ± 133.1 pages and 188.0 ± 102.0 pages, respectively, and there was no significant difference between the two groups (P = 0.708).

Conclusion

Virtual distant viewing technology can prevent the increase in myopia degree due to nearwork and improve accommodation function without increasing visual fatigue.

Dynamic accommodation measurement using Purkinje reflections and machine learning

Quantifying eye movement is important for diagnosing various neurological and ocular diseases as well as AR/VR displays. We developed a simple setup for real-time dynamic gaze tracking and accommodation measurements based on Purkinje reflections, which are the reflections from front and back surfaces of the cornea and the eye lens. We used an accurate eye model in ZEMAX to simulate the Purkinje reflection positions at different focus distances of the eye, which matched the experimental data. A neural network was trained to simultaneously predict vergence and accommodation using data collected from 9 subjects. We demonstrated that the use of Purkinje reflection coordinates in machine learning resulted in precise estimation. The proposed system accurately predicted the accommodation with an accuracy better than 0.22 D using subject's own data and 0.40 D using other subjects' data with two-point calibration in tests performed with 9 subjects in our setup.

Characteristics of ciliary muscle profile in high myopes measured by swept-source anterior segment optical coherence tomography

OBJECTIVE

To characterize and compare the ciliary muscle thickness (CMT) between low and high myopes using swept-source anterior segment optical coherence tomography (AS-OCT).

METHODS

Forty visually healthy young Chinese adults aged 18-25 years were divided into two groups based on refractive errors: low myopia (n = 20, spherical-equivalent refractive error (SER) between -0.50 D to -3.00 D) and high myopia (n = 20, SER ≤ -6.00 D). Cycloplegic refractions were performed before axial length (AL) and CMT were measured using a partial coherence laser interferometer and an AS-OCT respectively. CMT was measured perpendicularly to the sclera-ciliary muscle interface at 1 mm (CMT_1), 2 mm (CMT_2), and 3 mm (CMT_3) posterior to the scleral spur, and at the location with maximal thickness (CMT_MAX).

RESULTS

High myopes demonstrated thicker CMT at 2 mm (CMT_2, p = 0.035) and 3 mm (CMT_3, p = 0.003) posterior to the scleral spur, but thinner maximal CMT (CMT_MAX, p = 0.005) than low myopes. The apical CMT_1 and CMT_MAX were also thinner in high myopes than in low myopes (both p< 0.001). CMT_MAX, apical CMT_1, and apical CMT_MAX correlated directly with SER and inversely with AL; in contrast, CMT_2 and CMT_3 showed inverse correlations with SER but direct correlations with AL.

CONCLUSION

Our findings revealed significant differences in CMT between low and high myopes, with high myopes showing thicker CMT at 2 mm and 3 mm posterior to the scleral spur, but thinner maximal CMT. These results provide new evidence of the potential structural differences in ciliary muscles during myopia development and progression.

Effects of physical activity combined with different visual target presentation durations of ciliary-muscle training on visual acuity in children

Purpose

This study aimed to identify the effect of different durations of visual target presentation during ciliary-muscle training on children's kinetic visual acuity (KVA), uncorrected distance visual acuity (UDVA), axial length, and accommodative facility.

Methods

Based on the ciliary-muscle regulation mechanism, an intervention program involving ciliary-muscle training with different durations of visual target presentation combined with physical education classes was designed. The intervention aimed to determine the effect of different ciliary-muscle training durations on children's visual acuity. A total of 153 children aged 10-11 years from a school in Suzhou (a major city located in southeastern Jiangsu Province, East China) were enrolled as participants in this 32-week intervention study. This study measured the participants' UDVA and KVA before, during (after the 16th week), and after (after the 32nd week) the experimental intervention. The accommodative facility was measured during and after the intervention.

Results

After 32 weeks of the intervention, the KVA and UDVA of each experimental group were significantly improved (p < 0.05). A high percentage in the improvement of KVA was observed in the 3-s and 1-s groups (25.53%, 21.74%), and the highest percentage in the improvement of UDVA was observed in the 3-s group (2.96%). Axial length increased significantly in all groups (p < 0.05), and there was a low percentage increase in the 1-s and 3-s groups (0.82%). The accommodative facility was significantly improved in all experimental groups, with a higher improvement percentage in the 3-s and 1-s groups (3.01% and 2.61%, respectively). After dividing the children in each group according to their visual acuity, the KVA of children in the 1-s group was significantly improved, the UDVA of children with myopia was significantly increased, and the accommodative facility of children with mild and moderate myopia was significantly improved. Moreover, the KVA, UDVA, and accommodative facility of children with mild and moderate myopia in the 3-s group were significantly improved. The KVA of children with emmetropia and the accommodative facility of children with mild and moderate myopia in the 5-s group were also significantly increased.

Conclusion

In school physical education classes, the 1-s, 3-s, and 5-s ciliary-muscle regulating exercise could effectively improve the kinetic visual acuity, uncorrected distance visual acuity, and accommodative facility of children aged 10-11 years. Among them, the effects of the 1-s and 3-s durations are better than that of the 5-s duration, as it can reduce the growth rate of axial length and achieve better effects among children with mild and moderate myopia.

Effects of Morning or Evening Narrow-band Blue Light on the Compensation to Lens-induced Hyperopic Defocus in Chicks

SIGNIFICANCE

Exposure to blue light before bedtime is purported to be deleterious to various aspects of human health. In chicks, blue evening light stimulated ocular growth, suggesting a role in myopia development. To further investigate this hypothesis, we asked if brief blue light altered the compensatory responses to hyperopic defocus.

PURPOSE

Previous work showed that several hours' evening exposure to blue light stimulated ocular growth in chicks, but morning exposure was only effective at a lower illuminance. By contrast, rearing in blue light has inhibited ocular growth in untreated eyes and eyes exposed to form deprivation or defocus. We studied the effects of brief exposures to blue light on the compensation to hyperopic defocus.

METHODS

Chicks wore monocular negative lenses (-10 D) starting at age 10 days. They were subsequently exposed to blue light (460 nm) for 4 hours in the morning or evening for 8 to 9 days ("dim," 200 lux[morning, n = 9; evening, n = 11]; "bright," 600 lux[morning, n = 8; evening, n = 20]); controls wore lenses in white light (n = 14). Ultrasonography was done on days 1, 5, 8, and 9 for "evening" groups and days 1, 6, and 8 for "morning." All data are reported as interocular differences (experimental minus fellow eyes). Refractions were measured on the last day.

RESULTS

For evening exposure, dim blue light enhanced the axial compensation at all times (change in axial length: day 6: 465 vs. 329 μm/9 days, analysis of variance P < .001, P = .03; day 9: 603 vs. 416 μm/9 days, analysis of variance P < .001; P < .05). Bright blue light had a transient inhibitory effect (day 5: 160 vs. 329 μm; P < .005). Refractive errors were consistent with axial growth, with dim causing more myopia than bright (-9.4 vs. -4.7 D; P < .05). Morning blue light had no significant effect.

CONCLUSIONS

We speculate that these findings reflect a complex interaction between illuminance, defocus, and time of day.

Kinetic pupillary size using Pentacam in myopia

Purpose

To compare if the kinetic pupillary changes differs between high myopia (HM) and low/moderate myopia by Pentacam.

Setting

Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) General Hospital, Beijing, China.

Design

Comparative study.

Methods

In this cross-sectional retrospective study, 44 eyes of 44 patients were recruited in the Refractive Surgery Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital. Eyes were divided into two groups according to the refractive error: low/moderate myopia (22 eyes; -2.99 ± 1.09 D) and HM (22 eyes, -12.93 ± 3.44 D). At the beginning of the experiment, we made trials of scanning one false pupil by Pentacam. All patients underwent the Pentacam examination three times. Pupillary diameters (PD) during the scan process and other parameters were measured using the Pentacam. Coefficient variations of PD (CV) during the different scanning periods were analyzed comparatively between the two groups.

Results

Pentacam once time output 25 Scheimpflug images, with 13 ones during the period from 1st to 1.5th s and 12 ones during the period from 2.5th to 3rd s after the scanning onset. For the spatial order on all the 25 meridians, 13 Scheimpflug images came out when the Pentacam rotated from 60° to 153°meridians and the remaining 12 Scheimpflug images from 161° to 245° meridians. Among pupillary parameters, no statistical significance existed in PD25, PD13, and PD12 (pupil diameter's mean from all, former 13 and remaining 12 of 25 Scheimpflug images, respectively) (P > 0.05) between the two groups. However, there were statistically significant differences in CV25 and CV13 (coefficient variation of the pupil diameters from all and former 13 of 25 images, respectively) (P < 0.001), with no statistical significance in CV12 (coefficient variation of the pupil diameters from remaining 12 of 25 images) between both groups.

Conclusion

Twenty-five Scheimpflug images on Pentacam had the temporal and the spatial orders. CV in eyes with HM was lower than that in eyes with low/moderate myopia in a certain period of the Pentacam scan. Kinetic pupillary size in HM changed more slowly than that in low/moderate myopia during some scanning period analogous to the phasic response of the pupil reflex.

A Review of Intraocular Pressure (IOP) and Axial Myopia

The pathogenesis of myopia is driven by genetic and environmental risk factors. Accommodation not only alters the curvature and shape of the lens but also involves contraction of the ciliary and extraocular muscles, which influences intraocular pressure (IOP). Scleral matrix remodeling has been shown to contribute to the biomechanical susceptibility of the sclera to accommodation-induced IOP fluctuations, resulting in reduced scleral thickness, axial length (AL) elongation, and axial myopia. The rise in IOP can increase the burden of scleral stretching and cause axial lengthening. Although the accommodation and IOP hypotheses were proposed long ago, they have not been validated. This review provides a brief and updated overview on studies investigating the potential role of accommodation and IOP in myopia progression.

Physiological exophoria did not increase the incidence of myopia in rural school children in Taiwan

This study evaluated the incidence rate and risk factors for developing myopia in elementary school students in Chiayi, Taiwan. This prospective cohort study comprised 1816 students without myopia (grades 1 to 5 in Chiayi County). The students underwent a noncycloplegic ocular alignment examinations using an autorefractometer and completed a questionnaires at baseline and at a 1-year follow-up. A univariate logistic regression was used to assess the effects of the categorical variables on new cases of myopia. A multinomial logistic regression was then conducted. A chi-squared test was used to compare new cases of myopia in terms of ocular alignment. A Cox hazard ratio model was then used to validate factors associated with changes in ocular alignment. A P value of <.05 was considered significant. In 370 participants with new cases of myopia out of 1816 participants, a spherical error of -1.51 ± 0.6 diopters was noted at follow-up. The baseline ocular alignment was not a significant risk factor for developing myopia (exophoria vs orthophoria: OR 1.26, 95% CI 0.97-1.62; other vs. orthophoria: OR 1.15, 95% CI 0.73-1.82). However, new cases of myopia (HR 1.36, 95% CI 1.14-1.61), and baseline ocular alignment (exophoria vs orthophoria: HR 3.76, 95% CI 3.20-4.42; other vs orthophoria: HR 3.02, 95% CI 2.05-4.45) were associated with exophoria at follow-up. This study provided epidemiological data on the incidence of myopia in elementary school students in Chiayi, Taiwan. It also demonstrated that physiological exophoria does not predispose patients to developing myopia.

Ciliary Muscle Dimension Changes With Accommodation Vary in Myopia and Emmetropia

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to determine whether accommodation-induced changes in ciliary muscle dimensions vary between emmetropes and myopes, and the effect of the image analysis method.

Methods

Seventy adults aged 18 to 27 years consisted of 25 people with emmetropia (spherical equivalent refraction [SER] +0.21 ± 0.36 diopters [D]) and 45 people with myopia (−2.84 ± 1.72 D). There were 23 people with low myopia (>−3 D) and 22 people with moderate myopia (−3 to −6 D). Right eye ciliary muscles were imaged (Visante OCT; Carl Zeiss Meditec) at 0 D and 6 D demands. Measures included ciliary muscle length (CML), ciliary muscle curved length (CMLarc), maximum ciliary muscle thickness (CMTmax), CMT1, CMT2, and CMT3 (fixed distances 1–3 mm from the scleral spur), CM25, CM50, and CM75 (proportional distances 25%–75%). Linear mixed model analysis determined effects of refractive groups, race, and demand on dimensions. Significance was set at P < 0.05.

Results

Myopic eyes had greater CML and CMLarc nasally than emmetropic eyes. Myopic eyes had thicker muscles than emmetropic eyes at nasal positions, except CM25 and CMT3, and at CM75 temporally. During accommodation and only nasally, CML reduced in emmetropic and myopic eyes, and CMLarc reduced in myopic eyes only. During accommodation, both nasally and temporally, muscles thickened anteriorly (CMT1 and CM25) and thinned posteriorly (CMT3 and CM75) except for temporal CM75. Moderate myopic eyes had greater temporal CMLarc than low myopic eyes, and the moderate myopes had thicker muscles both nasally and temporally using fixed and proportional distances.

Conclusions

People with myopia had longer and thicker ciliary muscles than people with emmetropia. During accommodation, the anterior muscle thickened and the curved nasal muscle length shortened, more in myopic than in emmetropic eyes. The fixed distance method is recommended for repeat measures in the same individual. The proportional distance method is recommended for comparisons between refractive groups.

Assessment of Choroidal Vascularity and Choriocapillaris Blood Perfusion After Accommodation in Myopia, Emmetropia, and Hyperopia Groups Among Children

Purpose

To investigate choroidal vascularity (CV) and choriocapillaris blood perfusion before and after accommodation in myopia, emmetropia, and hyperopia groups among children.

Methods

This study included 39 myopic eyes from 22 subjects, 17 emmetropic eyes from 11 subjects, and 18 hyperopic eyes from 10 subjects. All subjects were children. Choroidal thickness (CT) and CV, including total choroidal area (TCA), luminal area (LA), and stromal area (SA) were measured using swept-source optical coherence tomography (SS-OCT). Choriocapillaris luminal area (CLA) was measured using SS-OCT-angiography before and after accommodation (near reading with an additional −3 diopter lens).

Results

For baseline results, except horizontal CV (showing no significant differences between myopia and emmetropia groups), both horizontal and vertical CT and CV were significantly smaller in the myopia group than in the emmetropia or hyperopia groups. In terms of CLA, no significant differences were observed among the myopia, emmetropia, and hyperopia groups. In addition, only myopic eyes showed significant decreases in CT and CV, whereas most CT and CV of emmetropic and hyperopic eyes showed non-significant decreases after accommodation. Furthermore, accommodation induced no significant changes in CLA in the myopia, emmetropia, or hyperopia groups.

Conclusion

Myopia had thinner baseline choroid and lower baseline choroidal blood perfusion. Furthermore, myopic eyes were more prone to choroidal thinning and blood perfusion decreases after accommodation.

Axial Elongation During Short-Term Accommodation in Myopic and Nonmyopic Children

Purpose

Axial length increases during accommodation in adults and children; however, refractive error group differences are conflicting and have not been explored in pediatric populations. This study aimed to evaluate differences in accommodation-induced axial elongation between myopic and nonmyopic children.

Methods

A range of ocular biometric measurements were captured during brief accommodation tasks (0, 3, 6, and 9 D) using a Badal optometer mounted to a noncontact optical biometer (Zeiss IOLMaster 700). Reliable measurements were captured for 15 myopic and 15 age- and sex-matched nonmyopic children. The average central corneal thickness (CCT), anterior chamber depth (ACD), crystalline lens thickness (LT), anterior segment length (ASL), vitreous chamber depth (VCD), and axial length (AL) were determined for each accommodation stimulus. Raw measurements of AL and VCD were corrected for the estimated error associated with LT increases during accommodation.

Results

All biometric parameters, except CCT, changed significantly during accommodation (all P < 0.001). Myopic children exhibited significantly greater accommodation-induced axial elongation than nonmyopic children (P = 0.002) at the 3, 6, and 9 D accommodation stimuli, with a mean difference of 7, 10, and 16 µm, respectively (all pairwise comparisons, P ≤ 0.03). The changes in all other biometric parameters were not different between the refractive error groups (P ≥ 0.23).

Conclusions

Accommodation-induced axial elongation was greater in myopic than nonmyopic children. This finding could support a potential mechanism linking near work, axial elongation, and myopia development in children or may reflect greater susceptibility to accommodation-induced axial elongation in children with established myopia.

Reduction in Accommodative Response of Schoolchildren by a Double-Mirror System

PURPOSE

This study first proposed the application of a double-mirror system (DMS) to extend viewing distance and investigate the accommodative response of schoolchildren under a DMS.

METHOD

Fifty-seven subjects aged between 7 and 12 years old were recruited in this study, and the experiment was divided into two stages. The first stage consisted of a case history inquiry, a refraction state, and a visual function examination. In the second stage, the subjects gazed at an object at distances of 0.4 m, 2.285 m, and through a DMS, respectively, and their accommodative responses were measured using an open-field autorefractor.

RESULTS

There was no significant difference in the schoolchildren's accommodative response between subjects gazing at an object at 2.285 m (0.14 ± 0.35 D, p > 0.05) and those gazing at it through a DMS (0.20 ± 0.35 D). However, their accommodative response showed a significant difference between subjects gazing at an object at 0.4 m and 2.285 m and those gazing at it at 0.4 m and through a DMS.

CONCLUSION

In this experiment, the results of the children's accommodative response measured at 2.285 m or through a DMS are very similar. The viewing distance can be extended by a DMS, resulting in accommodative relaxation. This result may have potential applications in myopia control.

Accommodative response to ocular surface pain

CLINICAL RELEVANCE

The discovery of an accommodative response to ocular surface stimulation could inform clinicians and patients that optical effects may occur due to ocular discomfort and perhaps an assessment of the accommodative system after carrying out interventions impacting the ocular surface, may be warranted.

BACKGROUND

There have been no previous reports evaluating the effect of noxious stimulation on accommodation. Here, the accommodative response of healthy participants after the application of noxious corneal stimulation is characterised.

METHODS

A computerised Belmonte pneumatic esthesiometer was used to determine detection thresholds (using ascending method of limits), and to randomly deliver mechanical and chemical stimuli from levels of detection threshold to twice the threshold in 50% steps, to the central cornea of 15 healthy subjects. For each suprathreshold stimulus, accommodative and pupil responses were measured with a validated eccentric infrared photorefractor. Quantitative differences in accommodative/pupil response, stimulus modality/intensity and left/right eye were analysed using repeated measures ANOVA. Tukey HSD tests were used for all post hoc analyses.

RESULTS

Accommodation increased from baseline as the corneal apical stimulus intensity increased. This happened regardless of whether mechanical or chemical stimulation occurred (ANOVA, p < 0.05). At 200% threshold, accommodative response was greater than all stimulus intensities (Tukey HSD, all p < 0.05). There was no difference in pupil response between the stimulation intensities (100%, 150% and 200% threshold). There was no difference in accommodative response between the left and right eye for mechanical (ANOVA, p > 0.05) and chemical stimulation (ANOVA, p > 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Noxious stimulation of the cornea seems to produce a dose-dependent increase in the accommodative response in the eyes but not a dose-dependent pupil response.

Nearwork-induced transient myopia and accommodation function before and after laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis surgery

Purpose

To assess the change in Near Induced Transient Myopia (NITM) and other accommodation parameters, before and after undergoing LASIK surgery for myopia correction.

Methods

Twenty-nine myopic subjects were recruited from a tertiary eye hospital in India. Age range was 21 to 35 years with an average age of 26.1 ± 3.5 years. Mean spherical equivalent was -3.86 D ± 1.50 D presurgery. NITM, lag of accommodation, near point of convergence (NPC), accommodative amplitude (AA), and binocular near accommodative facility (AF) were measured. All data were collected 21 days prior to and 30 days after LASIK surgery.

Results

NITM, lag of accommodation and amplitude of accommodation were significantly lower (NITM -0.05 ± 0.15, Lag 0.38 ± 0.38, AA 10.27 ± 2.24) after surgery when compared to before (NITM 0.26 ± 0.12, Lag 0.77 ± 0.51, AA 12.18 ± 2.02; P < 0.001). Accommodative facility increased and near point of convergence was significantly more distal following surgery (AF 10.70 ± 2.29, NPC 7.96 ± 1.63) when compared to prior (AF 8.65 ± 2.74, NPC 5.62 ± 1.71; P < 0.001).

Conclusion

Significant changes in NITM and accommodation function should be expected in the short term following LASIK surgery. This study supports the importance of evaluating accommodative parameters and patient counselling prior to and following refractive surgery.

Prevalence and associated factors of myopia among rural school students in Chia-Yi, Taiwan

Background

The prevalence of myopia has increased rapidly worldwide over the past few decades. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence and associated risk factors for myopia in elementary and junior high school students in Chia-Yi, Taiwan.

Methods

We included 5417 students in total from Grade 1–6 (n = 4763) and Grade 7–9 (n = 654) from Chia Yi County in this population-based study. The students underwent noncycloplegic autorefractometry and an interview with a structured questionnaire.

Results

For this study population, the prevalence of myopia and high myopia was 42.0 and 2.0%, respectively, revealing a statistically significant increase with increasing age (p < 0.05). Junior high school students (aged 13–15) showed a greater prevalence of myopia than elementary school students (aged 7–12) (55.8% vs. 40.1%, respectively, p < 0.001). Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that associated factors of myopia were body height (odds ratio [OR]: 1.05, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.05–1.06), body mass index (OR: 0.98, 95% CI: 0.96–1.00), and ocular alignment (horizontal heterophoria vs. orthophoria, OR: 2.37, 95% CI: 2.08–2.70; tropia vs. orthophoria, OR: 1.94, 95% CI: 1.50–2.52) for elementary school students, whereas in junior high school students, they included body height (OR: 1.02, 95% CI: 1.01–1.04) and ocular alignment (heterophoria vs. orthophoria, OR: 2.20, 95% CI: 1.56–3.10).

Conclusions

This study provided epidemiological data on myopia in rural school students in Chia-Yi, Taiwan, and demonstrated the association between heterophoria and myopia. Correction of refractive errors in the students remained a challenge.

Cerebral Blood Flow Alterations in High Myopia: An Arterial Spin Labeling Study

Objective

The aim of this study was to explore cerebral blood flow (CBF) alterations in subjects with high myopia (HM) using three-dimensional pseudocontinuous arterial spin labeling (3D-pcASL).

Methods

A total of sixteen patients with bilateral HM and sixteen age- and sex-matched healthy controls (HCs) were recruited. All subjects were right-handed. Image data preprocessing was performed using SPM8 and the DPABI toolbox. Clinical parameters were acquired in the HM group. Two-sample t-tests and Pearson correlation analysis were applied in this study.

Results

Compared to HCs, patients with HM exhibited significantly increased CBF in the bilateral cerebellum, and no decreases in CBF were detected in the brain. However, no relationship was found between the mean CBF values in the different brain areas and the disease duration (P > 0.05).

Conclusions

Using ASL analysis, we detected aberrant blood perfusion in the cerebellum in HM patients, contributing to a better understanding of brain abnormalities and brain plasticity through a different perspective.

An Objective Comparison of Light Intensity and Near-Visual Tasks Between Rural and Urban School Children in China by a Wearable Device Clouclip

Purpose

To compare light intensity and near-visual tasks objectively between rural and urban children.

Methods

Clouclip, a wearable device, was applied to assess metrics of these two factors in 78 fifth-grade students from an urban and from a rural school.

Results

The light intensity experienced by urban students was found significantly lower both in the school period (614.05 ± 178.77 vs. 918.41 ± 257.81 lux, P < 0.001) and on the weekend (444.53 ± 216.65 vs. 882.21 ± 536.67 lux, P < 0.001). The duration of exposure to bright light (>1000 lux) was also substantially shorter for urban students. Although no significant difference was found in near work–related behaviors during the school period and the weekend, for the after-school period the urban students had a shorter average viewing distance (30.94 ± 4.14 vs. 34.81 ± 3.93 cm, P < 0.001), a longer accumulated duration of near work (2.25 ± 0.53 vs. 1.95 ± 0.46 hours, P = 0.010), a greater time ratio of near work (56% ± 14% vs. 49% ± 14%, P = 0.045), and a greater time ratio of excessively close near work (49% ± 13% vs. 40% ± 12%, P = 0.001).

Conclusions

Our data indicate there were substantial differences in light exposure and near-work metrics between the two regions. The correlation between these differences and the discrepancy in regional myopia prevalence needs further investigation.

Translational Relevance

The objective quantification of these metrics might help explain the varied myopia prevalence among regions.

Prolonged nearwork affects the ciliary muscle morphology

There is evidence for a possible link between myopia development and near vision. We investigated the effect of prolonged nearwork on ciliary muscle (CM) morphology and accommodation in 18 myopic and 17 emmetropic subjects (age 19 to 25). The CM was imaged during far (0.25 D) and near vision (4 D) using optical coherence tomography (OCT), and accommodation to a step pulse (0.25 D - 4 D - 0.25 D, 15 s each) was assessed by eccentric infrared photorefraction before and after a 30-min reading task at 25 cm. OCT images were analyzed using a custom-developed semi-automatic segmentation algorithm to determine CM thickness (CMT) profiles and selective CMT readings. Accommodation was assessed using a non-linear model. On average, the CM got thinner after nearwork, predominantly at 0.0-1.4 mm posterior to the scleral spur in emmetropes, and at 1.0-1.9 mm in myopes. Selective CMT readings confirmed a significant thinning after nearwork (univariate ANOVA F_1,66 = 26.313, p < 0.001), without any influence of the subjects' refractive state (F_1,66 = 1.887, p = 0.174) or the target distance (F_1,66 = 0.014, p = 0.907). The mean accommodation response for targets at infinity was significantly increased after nearwork (F_1,32 = 7.775, p = 0.009), with a larger myopic shift in myopes (F_1,32 = 11.310, p = 0.002). No change in velocity of accommodation was found. Sharing properties of striated muscles, the CM was expected to increase its thickness, but the opposite was found. Previous studies suggesting sustained nearwork to result in a CM spasm cannot be confirmed by the data presented here. Further research exploring the possible impact of sympathetic innervation is necessary as it is activated during intense nearwork.

Aberrations and accommodation

Modern methods of measuring the refractive state of the eye include wavefront sensors which make it possible to monitor both static and dynamic changes of the ocular wavefront while the eye observes a target positioned at different distances away from the eye. In addition to monitoring the ocular aberrations, wavefront refraction methods allow measurement of the accommodative response while viewing with the eye's habitual chromatic and monochromatic aberrations present, with these aberrations removed, and with specific aberrations added or removed. A large number of experiments describing the effects of accommodation on aberrations and vice versa are reviewed, pointing out the implications for fundamental questions related to the mechanism of accommodation.

Ciliary muscle thickness profiles derived from optical coherence tomography images

The purpose of this study was to provide an in-depth analysis of the ciliary muscle's (CM) morphological changes during accommodation by evaluating CM thickness (CMT) profiles. The CM of 15 near-emmetropic subjects (age 20-39) was imaged via optical coherence tomography (OCT) during far (0 D) and near vision (3 D). A custom-made Java-based program was used for semi-automatic CM segmentation and thickness measurements. CMT profiles were generated to determine regions of the largest shape changes. The results revealed on average a thinning within the first 0.25 mm and a thickening from 0.36 to 1.48 mm posterior to scleral spur when accommodating from 0 to 3 D. In contrast to previous analyses, this method offers pixel-wise reconstruction of CM shapes and quantification of accommodative change across the entire muscle boundary.

Is it possible to relate accommodative visual dysfunctions to neck pain?

The aim of this study was to establish whether there is a relationship between conditions of accommodative visual dysfunctions and cervical complaints. Fifty-two participants were included. Variables were accommodative amplitude, positive and negative relative accommodation (NRA), accommodative response, and accommodative facility. Subjects were classified as accommodative insufficiency, accommodative excess, or normal. Neck complaints were measured with the Neck Disability Index, the Visual Analogue Scale, and by cervical range of motion, deep flexor muscle activation score, and performance index. We found the following significant relationships: between NRA and both performance index and left-side bending; accommodative amplitude right-eye with right-side bending and with left-side bending; accommodative amplitude left-eye with right-side bending; and accommodative facility left-eye with both performance index and left-side bending. In accommodative amplitude right-eye, aIl participants showed significant values and greater than those with accommodative excess. In both groups, performance index values were decreased. Greater pain and lower right-rotation were found in participants with accommodative excess than in those with accommodative insufficiency. We conclude that accommodative dysfunctions are related to low performance index, decreased range of motion, as well as greater neck pain.

Effect of Accommodation on Peripheral Eye Lengths of Emmetropes and Myopes

PURPOSE

To investigate the effect of accommodation on central and peripheral axial lengths in young adult emmetropes and myopes.

METHODS

On-axis and peripheral axial lengths were measured with the Haag-Streit Lenstar in 83 young adult participants for 0D and 6D accommodation demands. A Badal system was used to both correct refractive errors and induce accommodation. Participants were emmetropes (n = 29, mean spherical equivalent refraction +0.35 ± 0.35D), low myopes (32, -1.38 ± 0.73D), and higher myopes (22, -4.30 ± 0.73D). Ages were similar for all groups (22 ± 2 years). Pupils were dilated with 2.5% phenylephrine to allow a large field of measurement while maintaining active accommodation. Axial lengths were measured in 5° steps to ±30° across the horizontal visual field.

RESULTS

With accommodation, axial length increased for all refractive groups at all positions, but with lessening effect away from fixation. Axial length changes were greater for higher myopes than for emmetropes on-axis (higher myopes 41 ± 14 μm, emmetropes 30 ± 12 μm, P = .005), for higher myopes than for low myopes at 30° nasal (P = .03), and for the higher myopes than for the other groups at 20° nasal (P < .05). There were significant correlations between myopia and changes in axial length at all positions, with the highest correlation on-axis (R = 0.30, P < .001).

CONCLUSIONS

During accommodation, eye length increased out to at least ±30° visual angle in young adult myopes and emmetropes. The increase was significantly greater for higher myopes than for the other groups at some positions. At all positions, there were significant correlations between myopia and accommodation-induced changes in axial length.

Effect of Phenylephrine on the Accommodative System

Accommodation is controlled by the action of the ciliary muscle and mediated primarily by parasympathetic input through postganglionic fibers that originate from neurons in the ciliary and pterygopalatine ganglia. During accommodation the pupil constricts to increase the depth of focus of the eye and improve retinal image quality. Researchers have traditionally faced the challenge of measuring the accommodative properties of the eye through a small pupil and thus have relied on pharmacological agents to dilate the pupil. Achieving pupil dilation (mydriasis) without affecting the accommodative ability of the eye (cycloplegia) could be useful in many clinical and research contexts. Phenylephrine hydrochloride (PHCl) is a sympathomimetic agent that is used clinically to dilate the pupil. Nevertheless, first investigations suggested some loss of functional accommodation in the human eye after PHCl instillation. Subsequent studies, based on different measurement procedures, obtained contradictory conclusions, causing therefore an unexpected controversy that has been spread almost to the present days. This manuscript reviews and summarizes the main research studies that have been performed to analyze the effect of PHCl on the accommodative system and provides clear conclusions that could help clinicians know the real effects of PHCl on the accommodative system of the human eye.

Clinical exhibition of increased accommodative loads for binocular fusion in patients with basic intermittent exotropia

BACKGROUND

To investigate the accommodative loads change needed to maintain binocular fusion in patients with intermittent exotropia (IXT).

METHODS

Seventeen consecutive patients with basic IXT and 15 normal controls were recruited. The WAM-5500 autorefractor (GrandSeiko, Fukuyama, Japan) was used to measure refractive error (D) under binocular and monocular viewing conditions at 6 m, 50 cm, 33 cm and 20 cm. The difference between binocular and monocular refractive error (D) at each distance defined the change in the accommodative load. The changes in accommodative load were compared between IXT patients and normal controls. We also investigated the change in accommodative loads according to the fixing preference in patients with IXT.

RESULTS

In IXT patients, the mean angles of deviation were 20.2 ± 7.19 and 21.0 ± 8.02 prism diopters at 6 m and 33 cm, respectively. Under binocular viewing, the changes in accommodative loads of each eye in IXT patients were significantly higher at 50, 33 and 20 cm than those of normal controls (p < 0.05, all). The changes in accommodative loads of fixating and deviating eyes at 6 m were not significantly different between IXT patients and normal controls (p = 0.193, 0.155, respectively). The changes in accommodative loads of the fixating eye at each distance were not significantly different from those of the deviating eye in IXT patients (p > 0.05).

CONCLUSION

The changes of accommodative loads at near fixation increased more in IXT patients than they did in normal controls while maintaining binocular fusion.

Differences in the accommodation stimulus response curves of adult myopes and emmetropes: a summary and update

PURPOSE

To provide a summary of the classic paper "Differences in the accommodation stimulus response curves of adult myopes and emmetropes" published in Ophthalmic and Physiological Optics in 1998 and to provide an update on the topic of accommodation errors in myopia.

SUMMARY

The accommodation responses of 33 participants (10 emmetropes, 11 early onset myopes and 12 late onset myopes) aged 18-31 years were measured using the Canon Autoref R-1 free space autorefractor using three methods to vary the accommodation demand: decreasing distance (4 m to 0.25 cm), negative lenses (0 to -4 D at 4 m) and positive lenses (+4 to 0 D at 0.25 m). We observed that the greatest accommodation errors occurred for the negative lens method whereas minimal errors were observed using positive lenses. Adult progressing myopes had greater lags of accommodation than stable myopes at higher demands induced by negative lenses. Progressing myopes had shallower response gradients than the emmetropes and stable myopes; however the reduced gradient was much less than that observed in children using similar methods.

RECENT FINDINGS

This paper has been often cited as evidence that accommodation responses at near may be primarily reduced in adults with progressing myopia and not in stable myopes and/or that challenging accommodation stimuli (negative lenses with monocular viewing) are required to generate larger accommodation errors. As an analogy, animals reared with hyperopic errors develop axial elongation and myopia. Retinal defocus signals are presumably passed to the retinal pigment epithelium and choroid and then ultimately the sclera to modify eye length. A number of lens treatments that act to slow myopia progression may partially work through reducing accommodation errors.

Opposing effects of atropine and timolol on the color and luminance emmetropization mechanisms in chicks

This study analyzed the luminance and color emmetropization response in chicks treated with the nonselective parasympathetic antagonist atropine and the sympathetic β-receptor blocker timolol. Chicks were binocularly exposed (8h/day) for 4days to one of three illumination conditions: 2Hz sinusoidal luminance flicker, 2Hz sinusoidal blue/yellow color flicker, or steady light (mean 680lux). Atropine experiments involved monocular daily injections of either 20μl of atropine (18nmol) or 20μl of phosphate-buffered saline. Timolol experiments involved monocular daily applications of 2 drops of 0.5% timolol or 2 drops of distilled H2O. Changes in the experimental eye were compared with those in the fellow eye after correction for the effects of saline/water treatments. Atropine caused a reduction in axial length with both luminance flicker (-0.078±0.021mm) and color flicker (-0.054±0.017mm), and a reduction in vitreous chamber depth with luminance flicker (-0.095±0.023mm), evoking a hyperopic shift in refraction (3.40±1.77D). Timolol produced an increase in axial length with luminance flicker (0.045±0.030mm) and a myopic shift in refraction (-4.07±0.92D), while color flicker caused a significant decrease in axial length (-0.046±0.017mm) that was associated with choroidal thinning (-0.046±0.015mm). The opposing effects on growth and refraction seen with atropine and timolol suggest a balancing mechanism between the parasympathetic and β-receptor mediated sympathetic system through stimulation of the retina with luminance and color contrast.

Alarin in cranial autonomic ganglia of human and rat

Extrinsic and intrinsic sources of the autonomic nervous system contribute to choroidal innervation, thus being responsible for the control of choroidal blood flow, aqueous humor production or intraocular pressure. Neuropeptides are involved in this autonomic control, and amongst those, alarin has been recently introduced. While alarin is present in intrinsic choroidal neurons, it is not clear if these are the only source of neuronal alarin in the choroid. Therefore, we here screened for the presence of alarin in human cranial autonomic ganglia, and also in rat, a species lacking intrinsic choroidal innervation. Cranial autonomic ganglia (i.e., ciliary, CIL; pterygopalatine, PPG; superior cervical, SCG; trigeminal ganglion, TRI) of human and rat were prepared for immunohistochemistry against murine and human alarin, respectively. Additionally, double staining experiments for alarin and choline acetyltransferase (ChAT), tyrosine hydroxilase (TH), substance P (SP) were performed in human and rat ganglia for unequivocal identification of ganglia. For documentation, confocal laser scanning microscopy was used, while quantitative RT-PCR was applied to confirm immunohistochemical data and to detect alarin mRNA expression. In humans, alarin-like immunoreactivity (alarin-LI) was detected in intrinsic neurons and nerve fibers of the choroidal stroma, but was lacking in CIL, PPG, SCG and TRI. In rat, alarin-LI was detected in only a minority of cranial autonomic ganglia (CIL: 3.5%; PPG: 0.4%; SCG: 1.9%; TRI: 1%). qRT-PCR confirmed the low expression level of alarin mRNA in rat ganglia. Since alarin-LI was absent in human cranial autonomic ganglia, and only present in few neurons of rat cranial autonomic ganglia, we consider it of low impact in extrinsic ocular innervation in those species. Nevertheless, it seems important for intrinsic choroidal innervation in humans, where it could serve as intrinsic choroidal marker.

The effect of low-concentration atropine combined with auricular acupoint stimulation in myopia control

OBJECTIVES

To compare the effect of myopia control between patients treated with low-concentration atropine eye drops combined with auricular acupoint stimulation and those treated with atropine alone.

DESIGN AND SETTINGS

Single-blinded randomized controlled clinical trial in a regional teaching hospital.

INTERVENTIONS

The patients received either topical 0.125% atropine nightly plus auricular acupoint stimulation (0.125A + ACU group) or topical 0.125% atropine alone nightly (0.125A group).

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

The changes in spherical equivalent (SE), axial length (AL), anterior chamber depth (ACD), and intraocular pressure (IOP) per year were compared between the two groups.

RESULTS

Seventy-three of 110 total patients (66.4%) completed at least 6 months of follow-up. Patients in the 0.125A + ACU group had less myopic progression and AL elongation (-0.41 diopter and 0.24 mm/year) than those in the 0.125A group (-0.66 diopter and 0.32 mm/year) (mean follow-up 14.7 months, p < 0.0001 and p = 0.02, respectively). The ACD increased more in the 0.125A + ACU group than in the 0.125A group (0.076 mm vs. 0.023 mm/year, p = 0.0004). IOP decreased more in the 0.125A + ACU group than in the 0.125A group (-1.01 mmHg vs. -0.13 mmHg/year, p = 0.007). A decrease of 1 mmHg of IOP correlated with a decrease of myopic progression of 0.021 diopter/year (p = 0.006).

CONCLUSIONS

Patients treated with 0.125% atropine eye drops plus auricular acupoint stimulation had less myopic progression, less axial length elongation, more anterior chamber deepening, and greater IOP reductions than those treated with 0.125% atropine alone. Auricular acupoint stimulation in combination with low-concentration topical atropine was beneficial for myopia control.

Children's accommodation during reading of Chinese and English texts

PURPOSE

Inaccurate accommodation during nearwork and subsequent accommodative hysteresis may influence myopia development. Myopia is highly prevalent in Singapore; an untested theory is that Chinese children are prone to these accommodation characteristics. We measured the accuracy of accommodation responses during and nearwork-induced transient myopia (NITM) after periods spent reading Chinese and English texts.

METHODS

Refractions of 40 emmetropic and 43 myopic children were measured with a free-space autorefractor for four reading tasks of 10-minute durations: Chinese (SimSun, 10.5 points) and English (Times New Roman, 12 points) texts at 25 cm and 33 cm. Accuracy was obtained by subtracting accommodation response from accommodation demand. Nearwork-induced transient myopia was obtained by subtracting pretask distance refraction from posttask refraction, and regression was determined as the time for the posttask refraction to return to pretask levels.

RESULTS

There were significant, but small, effects of text type (Chinese, 0.97 ± 0.32 diopters [D] vs. English, 1.00 ± 0.37 D; F1,1230 = 7.24, p = 0.007) and reading distance (33 cm, 1.01 ± 0.30 D vs. 25 cm, 0.97 ± 0.39 D; F1,1230 = 7.74, p = 0.005) on accommodation accuracy across all participants. Accuracy was similar for emmetropic and myopic children across all reading tasks. Neither text type nor reading distance had significant effects on NITM or its regression. Myopes had greater NITM (by 0.07 D) (F1,81 = 5.05, p = 0.03) that took longer (by 50s) (F1,81 = 31.08, p < 0.01) to dissipate.

CONCLUSIONS

Reading Chinese text caused smaller accommodative lags than reading English text, but the small differences were not clinically significant. Myopic children had significantly greater NITM and longer regression than emmetropic children for both texts. Whether differences in NITM are a cause or consequence of myopia cannot be answered from this study.

Nearwork-induced transient myopia and parental refractive error

PURPOSE

To investigate the relationship between parental refractive error and the nearwork-induced transient myopia (NITM) characteristics of their children.

METHODS

Three hundred sixty children (173 boys and 187 girls) aged 6 to 17 years were tested. Initial NITM and its decay time (DT) were assessed objectively (WAM-5500, Grand-Seiko) immediately after binocularly viewing and performing a sustained near task (5 diopters [D]) for 5 minutes, incorporating a cognitive demand with full distance refractive correction in place. The NITM was classified into three categories: low (< 0.15 D), moderate (0.15 to 0.30 D), or high (≥0.30 D), whereas its decay was classified into two categories, namely, complete or incomplete. In addition, the children were divided into three groups based on the number of myopic parents (none, one, or two) and into four groups based on the level of parental myopia (no, low, moderate, or high).

RESULTS

Neither paternal nor maternal refractive error was associated with either their children's initial NITM magnitude or its DT in the myopic, emmetropic, or hyperopic groups or the combined group. No significant differences (p > 0.05) in the NITM magnitude, DT, or decay time constant were found as related to the number of myopic parents or level of parental myopia. Multiple odds ratio for incomplete decay of NITM did not change significantly (p > 0.05) with either an increase in number of myopic parents or level of parental myopia.

CONCLUSIONS

There was no association between parental refractive error and their children's NITM characteristics. This suggests a primary environmental basis for the NITM characteristics in the children.

Myopia prevention, near work, and visual acuity of college students: integrating the theory of planned behavior and self-determination theory

There has been little research examining the psychological antecedents of safety-oriented behavior aimed at reducing myopia risk. This study utilizes self-determination theory (SDT) and the theory of planned behavior (TPB) to understand the role of motivational and social-cognitive factors on individuals' near-work behavior. Adopting a prospective design, undergraduate students (n = 107) completed an initial questionnaire based on SDT in week 1, a second questionnaire containing measures of TPB variables in week 2, and objective measures of reading distance and visual acuity in week 6. The data were analyzed by variance-based structural equation modeling. The results showed that perceived autonomy support and autonomous motivation from SDT significantly predicted attitude, subjective norm, and perceived behavioral control from the TPB. These social-cognitive factors were significantly associated with intention and intention significantly predicted reading distance. The relationships in the model held when controlling for visual acuity. In conclusion, the integrated model of SDT and the TPB may help explain myopia-preventive behaviors.

Association of vitamin D receptor gene start codon (Fok1) polymorphism with high myopia

Background:

High myopia caused primarily due to abnormal emmetropization and excessive axial ocular elongation is associated with sight-threatening ocular pathology. Muscular dysfunction of ocular ciliary muscles due to altered intracellular calcium levels can result in defective mechanotransduction of the eye and retinal defocus. The vitamin D3 receptor (VDR; a intracellular hormone receptor) is known to mediate calcium homeostasis, influencing the development of myopia.

Materials and Methods:

In the present study, a total of 206 high myopia, 98 low myopia and 250 control samples were analyzed for VDR gene Fok1 (exon 2 start codon) polymorphism using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) technique.

Results:

High myopia patients revealed decrease in the frequency of ff homozygotes (8.3%) as compared to control group (14.0%), with a corresponding increase in frequency of FF homozygotes (68.9% in high myopia vs. 62.8% in controls). The frequency of f allele carriers (Ff and ff) was increased in females of high myopia (35.6%) and low myopia cases (45.4%). Elevated frequency of f allele was found only in early age at onset cases of high myopia (0.227) and later age at onset (10–20 years) cases of low myopia (0.273) as well as in low myopia cases with parental consanguinity (0.458) (P 0.035; χ² = 6.692*).

Conclusion:

The results suggest that VDR gene might not be playing a direct role in the development of myopia, but might contribute indirectly to the risk conferred by mechanical stress factors or growth/development related factors through its role in calcium homeostasis and regulation of ciliary muscle function.

Nearwork-induced changes in lenticular thickness in different refractive groups

PURPOSE

The aim of this study was to directly measure lenticular thickness and its additivity after 1 and 2 hours of continuous reading at near in myopic and emmetropic young adults.

METHODS

Thirty-five subjects consisting of 12 early-onset myopes, 11 late-onset myopes, and 12 emmetropes were tested. Axial lenticular thickness was measured in the right eye using A-scan ultrasonography before and immediately after 1 and 2 hours of continuous reading at near (35 to 40 cm).

RESULTS

Group mean (±SD) changes in lenticular thickness from baseline values after the first and second hours of reading were 0.025 ± 0.011 and 0.035 ± 0.017 mm, respectively. The group mean increase in lenticular thickness after the second hour was significantly larger than after the first hour, with subsequent subgroup analysis indicating that this was found in the myopes only.

CONCLUSION

The lenticular increase was additive in nature, but only in the late-onset and early-onset myopes. This confirmed and extended objectively earlier studies that suggested increased nearwork accommodative susceptibility of a primarily lenticular nature in myopes.

The short-term influence of exercise on axial length and intraocular pressure

PURPOSE

The aim of this study is to investigate the short-term influence of a period of dynamic exercise on axial length (AXL) and intraocular pressure (IOP) in young adult subjects.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

In all, 20 young adult subjects (10 myopes and 10 emmetropes) participated. Baseline measures of ocular biometrics, IOP and ocular pulse amplitude (OPA) were taken following a 20-min rest period. Subjects then performed 10 min of moderate intensity, low impact dynamic exercise (bicycle ergometry). Measures of ocular biometrics, IOP and OPA were repeated immediately after, and then 5 and 10 min after this exercise task. Systemic blood pressure and pulse rate were also monitored. A repeated measures analysis of variance was used to investigate the changes in the measured parameters.

RESULTS

Exercise resulted in significant changes in a range of ocular parameters. A small but significant decrease in AXL was observed following exercise (P<0.0001). The largest change in AXL was noted immediately following exercise (mean decrease -17±10 μm). IOP and OPA also decreased significantly following exercise (P<0.0001). A moderate but significant positive association was found between the changes in AXL and the changes in IOP (r(2)=0.36, P<0.0001). There were no significant differences found between the myopic and emmetropic subjects in the magnitude of changes observed in ocular parameters following exercise.

CONCLUSION

The physiological effects of dynamic exercise lead to changes in a range of ocular parameters, including significant reductions in IOP, OPA and decreases in AXL.

Autonomic control of the eye and the iris

The vertebrate eye receives innervation from ciliary and pterygopalatine parasympathetic and cervical sympathetic ganglia as well as sensory trigeminal axons. The sympathetic and parasympathetic pathways represent the classical "core" of neural regulation of ocular homeostasis. Sensory trigeminal neurons are also involved in autonomic regulation by both providing the afferent limb of various reflexes and exerting their peptide-mediated local effector function. This arrangement is remarkably conserved throughout vertebrate classes although significant modifications are observed in anamniotes, in particular their irises. In higher primates and birds, intrinsic choroidal neurons emerged as a significant additional innervation component. They most likely mediate local vascular regulation and other local homeostatic tasks in foveate eyes. This review across the vertebrate classes outfolds the complex neuronal regulatory underpinnings across vertebrates that ensure proper visual function.

Peripheral refraction in myopic patients after orthokeratology

PURPOSE

The purpose of this study was to characterize the central and peripheral refraction across the horizontal meridian of the visual field before and after myopic corneal refractive therapy (CRT) with contact lenses.

METHODS

Twenty-eight right eyes from 28 subjects (mean age +/- SD = 24.6 +/- 6.3 years) were fitted with Paragon CRT contact lenses to treat myopia between -0.88 and -5.25 D of spherical equivalent. Along with a complete set of examination procedures to assess suitability for treatment, the central and peripheral refractions were measured along the horizontal meridian up to 35 degrees of eccentricity in the nasal and temporal retinal area in 5 degrees steps.

RESULTS

Baseline central average spherical equivalent (M) measured by subjective refraction changed from -1.95 +/- 1.27 D to -0.38 +/- 0.67 D. Changes in M component ranged between 1.42 +/- 0.89 D at center and 0.43 +/- 0.88 D at 20 degrees in the temporal retina (p < 0.002). At 25 degrees to both sides of the central refraction measurement, peripheral refraction after treatment was not statistically different from baseline values (p > 0.351). Beyond the 25 degrees limit, M component changed in the myopic direction up to -1.11 +/- 0.88 D at 35 degrees in temporal retina (p < 0.001). Treatment induced was symmetric between nasal and temporal visual field along the horizontal meridian (p > 0.05 for all eccentricities). Furthermore, the degree of myopic increase in spherical equivalent for 30 degrees (r2 = 0.573, p < 0.001) and 35 degrees (r2 = 0.645, p < 0.001) eccentric refraction was highly correlated with axial spherical equivalent at baseline.

CONCLUSIONS

CRT inverts the pattern of peripheral refraction in spherical equivalent refraction, creating a treatment area of myopic reduction within the central 25 degrees of visual field, and a myopic shift beyond the 25 degrees. In peripheral refraction for 30 degrees and 35 degrees, the amount of myopia induced in terms of spherical equivalent has an almost 1:1 relationship with the amount of baseline spherical equivalent refraction to be corrected.

Effect of nearwork-induced transient myopia on distance retinal defocus patterns

The purpose of the current study was to assess the effect of nearwork-induced transient myopia (NITM) on retinal defocus patterns during distance viewing. An empirically derived, conceptual model of human blur perception and related retinal defocus patterns has been extended to determine the effect of NITM on the relative contributions of myopic and hyperopic retinal defocus during distance viewing. Under the normal hyperfocal refractive condition during distance viewing with isolated stimulus conditions, there is very small myopic defocus (approximately 0.25 diopters), and no hyperopic defocus, present. After sustained nearwork generating NITM, a moderate increase in this myopic defocus contribution takes place. In the normal isolated distance viewing situation with only very small myopic defocus present, as would occur with many far outdoor activities, the paucity of overall retinal defocus may provide a "protected" condition against myopia development. In contrast, with the addition of NITM producing increased myopic retinal defocus only, there is an imbalance of retinal defocus that may be myopigenic, especially in the context of foveal and peripheral retinal interactions.

Autonomic drugs and the accommodative system in rhesus monkeys

Accommodation and pupil constriction result from parasympathetic stimulation from the Edinger-Westphal (EW) nucleus of the midbrain resulting in release of acetylcholine at the neuromuscular junctions of the ciliary muscle and iris. Cholinergic and adrenergic drugs can be applied topically to evaluate the effects on the pupil and accommodative system without input from the EW nucleus. This study is directed at characterizing how topical low dose echothiophate, an anti-cholinesterase inhibitor (i.e., an indirect cholinergic agonist), epinephrine, an adrenergic agonist, and timolol maleate, a beta adrenergic antagonist, affect pupil diameter, resting refraction and accommodative amplitude and dynamics in rhesus monkeys. The effects of 0.015% echothiophate, 2% epinephrine, 0.5% timolol maleate and saline on pupil diameter and resting refraction were measured in one eye each of four normal rhesus monkeys for 60-90 min following topical instillation. Pupil diameter was measured with infrared videography and refraction was measured with a Hartinger coincidence refractometer. Effects on static and dynamic EW stimulated accommodation were studied in three iridectomized monkeys (ages 5, 6 and 12 years) with permanent indwelling stimulating electrodes in the EW nucleus. Dynamic accommodative responses were measured with infrared photorefraction for increasing current amplitudes before and during the course of action of the pharmacological agents. Echothiophate caused a significant decrease in pupil diameter of 3.07 +/- 0.65 mm (mean +/- SEM, p < 0.01), and a myopic shift in resting refraction of 1.30 +/- 0.39 D (p < 0.05) 90 min after instillation. Epinephrine caused a 2.76 +/- 0.38 mm (p < 0.01) increase in pupil diameter with no change in resting refraction 60 min after instillation. Timolol maleate resulted in no significant change in either pupil diameter or resting refraction 60 min after instillation. There was no significant change in maximum EW stimulated accommodative amplitude after any agent tested. The amplitude vs. peak velocity relationship for accommodation was significantly different after echothiophate and timolol maleate, and for disaccommodation after echothiophate, epinephrine and timolol maleate. In conclusion, when tested objectively in anesthetized monkeys, epinephrine and timolol maleate did not alter resting refraction or accommodative amplitude, but did have small, significant affects on accommodative dynamics. This suggests that there is an adrenergic component to the accommodative system. Low dose echothiophate had significant effects on pupil diameter and resting refraction, with only small effects on the dynamics of the accommodative response.

Nearwork-induced transient myopia (NITM) and permanent myopia--is there a link?

Myopia is a worldwide public health problem. However, its understanding is incomplete, and many of its preventative and therapeutic aspects remain controversial. Nearwork is a primary, environmentally based factor in the aetiology of permanent myopia (PM), with nearwork-induced transient myopia (NITM) being a possible contributory component. A relationship between PM and NITM has been suggested, but that connection has remained somewhat indirect and elusive. However, based on recent converging evidence from clinical, laboratory and modelling studies, a five-fold argument will be advanced for a possible link between PM and NITM.

Potential Higher-Order Aberration Cues for Sphero-Cylindrical Refractive Error Development

PURPOSE

To investigate analytically whether higher-order wavefront errors comprising combinations of trefoil along 30 degrees (trefoil30), vertical coma, and spherical aberration could provide cues to sphero-cylindrical refractive error development.

METHODS

A total of 25 test wavefronts, subdivided into five different types and five levels of higher-order root mean square errors (HO-RMS), were created for the study. One type contained spherical aberration only, producing HO-RMS levels between 0.1 and 0.5 microm. Four wavefront types contained coma, trefoil, and spherical aberration of various sign combinations also producing HO-RMS levels between 0.1 and 0.5 microm. From the 25 wavefronts, refractive power maps were created and 2025 different sphero-cylindrical combinations were added to each refractive power map. For each sphero-cylinder combination, the visual Strehl ratio based on the modulation transfer function (VSMTF) was calculated. Retinal images and refractive power histograms were calculated for the refractive power maps corresponding to the peak of the VSMTF.

RESULTS

Spherical aberration affected the best focal plane thereby inducing spherical or defocus cues. The VSMTF produced by vertical coma and trefoil30, in combination with spherical aberration, could be improved with sphero-cylinders of various magnitudes and directions (i.e., with-the-rule, against-the rule, myopic astigmatism, or hyperopic astigmatism). Clinical significance of sphero-cylinders (i.e., >or=0.25 D) was reached at HO-RMS levels between 0.2 and 0.3 microm for a 5-mm pupil zone.

CONCLUSIONS

In the context of compensatory blur driven eye growth, commonly occurring combinations of the three considered higher-order aberrations have the potential to produce cues to eye growth resulting in myopia and with-the-rule astigmatism.