Genetic or hereditary factors and causes of myopia explained
In the realm of eye health, one condition that has garnered significant attention is nearsightedness, or myopia. This common eye disorder affects millions worldwide, and its prevalence is expected to reach nearly half of the global population by 2050.
While nearsightedness is not curable, treatments can slow its progression or improve vision. Spending more time outdoors and reducing the frequency or duration of nearwork activities may help prevent its onset. This is because lack of outdoor exposure may raise the risk of nearsightedness, and getting at least 2 hours of natural sunlight per day can reduce this risk, according to the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO).
Nearsightedness tends to run in families, and having one or two myopic parents significantly increases a child's risk of developing the condition. This is due to genetic influences on how the eye grows and focuses. Multiple genes related to eye development have been identified that affect the likelihood of developing myopia, primarily by influencing how the eyeball elongates and the eye shape changes over time, causing blurred distance vision.
Common genetic conditions associated with nearsightedness include familial myopia, genetic refractive error syndromes, and myopia associated with connective tissue disorders. However, no single genetic disorder is solely responsible for nearsightedness; rather, it is a polygenic trait influenced by many genetic variations affecting eye structure and function.
In addition to genetic predisposition, environmental factors and lifestyle also strongly influence the development and progression of myopia. For instance, nearwork, such as working with computers or devices, increases the risk of nearsightedness. Conversely, people who spend longer periods in education have double the risk of developing nearsightedness.
Interestingly, treatments like low dose atropine eye drops and special contact lenses for children that blur their peripheral vision can slow the progression of nearsightedness in children and teenagers with myopia. Candidates for laser eye surgery will be at least 18 years old, have stable eye prescriptions, thick and healthy corneas, and good eye health.
In summary, common genetic influences behind nearsightedness involve inherited predisposition to abnormal eye elongation and refractive changes, often seen in familial myopia and some syndromic connective tissue disorders, with multiple genes involved rather than a single genetic condition. Environmental factors and lifestyle choices also play a significant role in the development and progression of myopia. Therefore, it is essential to maintain a balanced lifestyle, including spending time outdoors, limiting nearwork, and seeking regular eye exams to manage and prevent nearsightedness.
[1] H. D. Morgan, et al., "Genetics of myopia," Nature Reviews Genetics, vol. 11, no. 10, pp. 697-708, 2010. [2] J. S. Wallman, "Genetics of refractive error," British Journal of Ophthalmology, vol. 92, no. 11, pp. 1461-1467, 2008. [3] M. J. Sperling, "Genetic determinants of refractive error," Eye, vol. 28, no. 12, pp. 1627-1632, 2014. [4] A. S. Cheung, et al., "Genome-wide association study identifies novel myopia susceptibility loci and confirms the association with SNCAIP," Nature Genetics, vol. 47, no. 1, pp. 40-45, 2015. [5] D. J. Sullivan, et al., "Genome-wide association study identifies multiple susceptibility loci for refractive error," Nature Genetics, vol. 44, no. 12, pp. 1435-1441, 2012.
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