# Optically Induced Anisometropias

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON · 2022 · $495,583

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT
Soon after birth, most infants develop the optimal refractive error (i.e., “clinical” emmetropia) in both eyes that
is maintained throughout childhood and into adult life. However, for reasons not currently understood, a
significant and rapidly increasing proportion of the population develop myopia, or nearsightedness. Because of
structural changes that take place as the eye becomes myopic, even low degrees of myopia pose a significant
risk for multiple blinding conditions. As a consequence, myopia is now one of the leading causes of permanent
visual impairment in the world. Additionally, myopia represents a substantial economic burden. In addition to
lost productivity, billions of dollars are spent annually on optical corrections and pathologies caused by myopia.
The long-term goal of our research program is to provide a better understanding of the etiology of common
forms of myopia, juvenile and early adult onset myopia, and ultimately to develop effective treatment strategies
that reduce the burden of myopia. The specific aims of our proposed research are to determine how visual
experience affects refractive development, to characterize the operational properties of the vision-dependent
mechanisms that regulate eye growth, and to explore new pharmaceutical approaches to eliminate myopia.
Our purpose is to generate knowledge that can be applied to the human eye; however, many of the required
experiments cannot be conducted in humans. Therefore, these experiments will be conducted using rhesus
monkeys. Previous studies in our lab and others show that light/dark exposure patterns and characteristics of
light, such as intensity and wavelength, influence eye growth. Potential mechanisms include alterations in
circadian rhythm pathways and ocular remodeling, particularly of the sclera, the outermost coat of the eye.
Preliminary data also show that prostaglandin analogs and alpha adrenergic agonists influence eye growth.
Here, controlled rearing strategies, optical and biometric techniques, and histopathological investigation will be
used to determine: 1) the effects of duration and time of day of red light exposure on eye growth and myopia
and 2) whether prostaglandin analogs and alpha-2 adrenergic agonists can slow the development of myopia.
The role of intraocular pressure, inflammation, and scleral remodeling in eye growth will be examined. The
proposed experiments focus on fundamental issues concerning the manner in which visual experience
influences refractive development. Findings will be important in determining how and to what extent visual
experience contributes to the genesis of common human refractive errors. More importantly, the results of
these studies will potentially provide the scientific foundation for qualitatively new treatment and management
strategies for the most common forms of myopia. Findings will contribute the development of treatments to
effectively slow the progression of myopia in children to i...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10526705
- **Project number:** 2R01EY003611-39A1
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON
- **Principal Investigator:** Lisa A Ostrin
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $495,583
- **Award type:** 2
- **Project period:** 1981-02-01 → 2023-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10526705

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10526705, Optically Induced Anisometropias (2R01EY003611-39A1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10526705. Licensed CC0.

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