The main objectives of this project are to elucidate the mechanisms responsible for the genesis of axial myopia, and to develop procedures to treat and/or prevent the condition. The Macaque monkey will be used as an animal model because neonatal lid closure or corneal opacification produces axial myopia (-4D to -13 D) and characteristic fundus changes. Since the central nervous system plays an important role in the development of the myopia the effects of interrupting afferent and efferent pathways on the lid-closure myopia will be investigated by intracranial section of (1) the optic nerve, (2) the trigeminal nerve, and (3) oculomotor nerves. Previous work indicated that atropine administration prevents axial myopia in M. arctoides but not in M. mulatta; the role of accomodation will be further investigated by (1) removal of the ciliary ganglion, (2) electrical stimulation of the ciliary ganglion, and (3) forced accomodation through behavioral methods. Finally attempts will be made to induce myopia through distortion of the visual input without lid closure or corneal opacification. This will be done by raising monkeys with a) translucent occluders of known light transmittence and b) positive lenses which prevent distinct vision without attenuating light.
| Stone, R A; Laties, A M; Raviola, E et al. (1988) Increase in retinal vasoactive intestinal polypeptide after eyelid fusion in primates. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 85:257-60 |
