Health & Well-Being-Genetics plays role in myopia onset
Health & Well-Being-Genetics plays role in myopia onset
People with two myopic, or nearsighted, parents are 6.42 times more likely to become nearsighted in their youth than individuals with one or no nearsighted parents, according to a study of 277 children in a recent research paper in Optometry and Vision Science.
Myopia is a common vision condition where near objects are generally seen clearly, but distant objects are blurred and do not come into proper focus. The researchers demonstrated in three different studies the effect that genetics has in the development of myopia in children.
"There is evidence that both genetic and environmental factors influence who will become myopic," says Jane E. Gwiazda, PhD, director of the Children's Vision Laboratory at the New England College of Optometry in Boston, and head of the research effort. "Understanding how our genetic makeup relates to myopia is potentially important in a number of ways."
Another study in the paper involving 277 children concluded that children six months to 12 months of age who are relatively more nearsighted than other children are 4.33 times more likely to become nearsighted at a later age.
In a third study, researchers developed and analyzed 43 pedigrees of two- and three-generation families affected by myopia. They found that 63% of individuals considered at risk for developing myopia in youth actually became myopic. An individual was considered at risk if he or she had at least one affected parent.
This paper represents preliminary research on the influence of genetics on the development of myopia. The researchers plan to undertake molecular genetic analyses to identify genes that may be responsible for susceptibility to myopia.
With this information, individuals could perhaps be tested for myopia susceptibility before actually becoming myopic, and doctors may be able to better understand the causes of myopia and, therefore, develop effective preventive measures.
"This paper, and its future expansion, hold promise for developing diagnostic tests that could identify individuals who are at greater risk for developing myopia," says Gwiazda. "Thus, a therapeutic intervention, whether it be optical, pharmaceutical, or even genetic, could be focused on those individuals most likely to derive a benefit."
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