Association of polymorphisms in ZFHX1B, KCNQ5 and GJD2 with myopia progression and polygenic risk prediction in children

Daily Low-Level Red Light for Spherical Equivalent Error and Axial Length in Children With Myopia: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Importance

Treatments are needed to slow progression of or reduce incidence of myopia.

Objective

To evaluate the efficacy and safety of daily 650-nm low-level red light (LLRL) for myopia treatment.

Design, Setting, and Participants

Single-masked, randomized clinical trial at 1 site in China. Baseline measurements were completed from August to September 2021. Participants were children aged 6 to 12 years with spherical equivalent error (SER) of -6 diopters (D) to 3 D. Data were analyzed from March to July 2023.

Interventions

Irradiation daily with 650-nm LLRL for 3 minutes twice daily 4 or more hours apart or no intervention.

Main Outcomes and Measures

Primary outcomes were changes in cycloplegia SER and axial length (AL) at 6- and 12-month follow-up visits. Safety was assessed on masked fundus photograph evaluations.

Results

A total of 336 children were randomly allocated into the LLRL group or control group in a 1:1 ratio. The control group contained 86 female patients (51.2%), and the treatment group contained 90 female patients (53.6%). The mean (SD) age, SER, and AL were 9.0 (1.9) years, -1.3 (1.5) D, and 23.8 (1.0) mm for all patients. A total of 161 (95.8%) in the LLRL group and 159 (94.6%) in the control group returned for the 6-month follow-up. A total of 157 (93.5%) in the LLRL group and 152 (90.5%) in the control group returned for the 12-month follow-up. Mean (SD) changes in SER were 0.15 (0.16) D and -0.26 (0.21) D for the LLRL group and the control group, respectively (difference, -0.41 D; 95% CI, -0.48 to -0.34 D; P < .001), at 6 months and 0.24 (0.27) D and -0.65 (0.33) D for the LLRL group and the control group, respectively (difference, -0.89 D; 95% CI, -0.95 to -0.83 D; P < .001), at 12 months. Mean (SD) changes in AL were -0.06 (0.08) mm and 0.13 (0.12) mm for the LLRL group and control group, respectively (difference, 0.19 mm; 95% CI, 0.16 to 0.22 mm; P < .001), at 6 months and -0.11 (0.10) mm and 0.26 (0.16) mm for the LLRL group and control group, respectively (difference, 0.37 mm; 95% CI, 0.34 to 0.40 mm; P < .001). Masked fundus photograph review did not identify retinal changes in either group.

Conclusions and relevance

These findings suggest daily use of 650-nm LLRL for 1 year can slow progression of SER and AL without safety concerns identified. Confirmation of these findings at independent sites seems warranted, as well as determining whether these effects can be sustained with or without continued treatment and whether LLRL has any effect on pathological myopia.

Trial Registration

ChiCTR2200058963.

The SNTB1 and ZFHX1B gene have susceptibility in northern Han Chinese populations with high myopia

The aim of this study was to explore the association between SNTB1 and ZFHX1B polymorphisms and high myopia (HM) in a Northern Han Chinese population. This case-control study included 457 HM and 860 healthy subjects from the Northern Han Chinese population. Four single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) (rs7839488, rs4395927, rs4455882, and rs6469937) in SNTB1 and one SNP in ZFHX1B (rs13382811)were selected based on two previous genome-wide association study (GWAS) studies. The allele and genotype distributions of SNPs in SNTB1 and ZFHX1B were compared between the two groups using the chi-square test. The allele results were adjusted for age and sex using Plink software (Plink 1.9). Pairwise linkage disequilibrium (LD) and haplotype analyses were performed using SHEsis software. For HM subjects, the mean age was 44.80 ± 17.11 years, and for the control subjects, it was 44.41 ± 14.26 years. For rs7839488 of the SNTB1 gene, the A allele is a risk allele and the G allele is a wild allele. The A allele had no statistical significance with the HM cases and controls (OR = 0.90, 95% CI = 0.74-1.09, aP = 0.273, Pc = NS). There was a LD in SNTB1 (rs7839488, rs4395927, rs4455882, and rs6469937). The G-C-A-G haplotype frequency was higher in HM subjects than that of the controls (OR = 1.31, 95% CI = 1.07-1.60, P = 0.008). Meanwhile, the A-T-G-A haplotype frequency was slightly lower in the HM group (OR = 0.81, 95% CI = 0.66-0.99, P = 0.048). In the ZFHX1B gene, the frequency of the minor T allele of rs13382811 was significant higher in the HM group than in the control group (OR = 1.34, 95% CI = 1.11-1.61, aP = 0.001, Pc = 0.009). Furthermore, compared to the CC genotype, there were significant differences in the CT genotype (OR = 1.57, 95% CI = 1.23-2.00, aP < 0.001, Pc = 0.002). In conclusion, G-C-A-G is a risk haplotype from the SNTB1 gene in high myopia patients. The minor T-allele of ZFHX1B rs13382811 is a risk factor for high myopia. SNTB1 and ZFHX1B are both risk genes associated with increased susceptibility to high myopia in the Northern Han Chinese population.

Myopia control and prevention: From lifestyle to low-concentration atropine. The 2022 Josh Wallman Memorial Lecture

The purpose of this study was to explore the findings from the Hong Kong Children Eye Study and the Low Concentration Atropine for Myopia Progression (LAMP-1) Study. The incidence of myopia among schoolchildren in Hong Kong more than doubled during the COVID-19 pandemic, with outdoor time decreased significantly and screen time increased. The change in lifestyle during the COVID-19 pandemic aggravated myopia development. Low-concentration atropine (0.05%, 0.025% and 0.01%) is effective in reducing myopia progression with a concentration-related response. This concentration-dependent response was maintained throughout a 3-year follow-up period, and all low concentrations were well tolerated. An age-dependent effect was observed in each treatment group with 0.05%, 0.025% and 0.01% atropine. Younger age was associated with a poor treatment response to low-concentration atropine. Additionally, low-concentration atropine induced choroidal thickening along a concentration-dependent response throughout the treatment period. During the third year, continued atropine treatment achieved a better effect across all concentrations compared with the washout regimen. Stopping treatment at an older age and receiving lower concentration were associated with a smaller rebound effect. However, differences in the rebound effect were clinically small across all the three concentrations studied.

Analysis and modeling of myopia-related factors based on questionnaire survey

With the rapid development of science and technology, the trend of low age myopia is becoming increasingly significant. The latest national survey done by the Chinese government found that more than 80% of Chinese teenagers suffer from myopia. Adolescent myopia is closely related to living environment, heredity, and living habits. Quantifying the relationship between myopia and living environment, heredity, and living habits is conductive to the prevention and intervention of adolescent myopia. In this study, we investigated the relationships between four main factors (environment, habits, parental vision, and demographic) and myopia status by analyzing the questionnaire data. Data were collected from Chengdu, China in 2021, including 2808 myopia samples and 5693 non-myopia samples, with a total of 22 features. Then, these 22 features were inputted into three machine learning algorithms to discriminate the two classes of samples. Results show that the computational model could produce an AUC of 0.768. To pick out the most important features which play important roles in classification, we used incremental feature selection strategy to screen the 22 features. As a result, we found that the 4 most influential features with XGBoost could achieve a competitive AUC of 0.764. To further investigate the risk and protective factors affecting adolescent myopia, we used OR values derived from MLE-LR to analyze the relationship between 22 features and adolescent myopia. Results showed that the age variable was the most significant risk factor for myopia, followed by the myopia status of parents. The most protective factor for eyesight is the measure taken by the children, followed by the distance between books and eyes when reading. These discoveries can guide the prevention and control of myopia in children and adolescents.

Myopia Genetics and Heredity

Myopia is the most common eye condition leading to visual impairment and is greatly influenced by genetics. Over the last two decades, more than 400 associated gene loci have been mapped for myopia and refractive errors via family linkage analyses, candidate gene studies, genome-wide association studies (GWAS), and next-generation sequencing (NGS). Lifestyle factors, such as excessive near work and short outdoor time, are the primary external factors affecting myopia onset and progression. Notably, besides becoming a global health issue, myopia is more prevalent and severe among East Asians than among Caucasians, especially individuals of Chinese, Japanese, and Korean ancestry. Myopia, especially high myopia, can be serious in consequences. The etiology of high myopia is complex. Prediction for progression of myopia to high myopia can help with prevention and early interventions. Prediction models are thus warranted for risk stratification. There have been vigorous investigations on molecular genetics and lifestyle factors to establish polygenic risk estimations for myopia. However, genes causing myopia have to be identified in order to shed light on pathogenesis and pathway mechanisms. This report aims to examine current evidence regarding (1) the genetic architecture of myopia; (2) currently associated myopia loci identified from the OMIM database, genetic association studies, and NGS studies; (3) gene-environment interactions; and (4) the prediction of myopia via polygenic risk scores (PRSs). The report also discusses various perspectives on myopia genetics and heredity.