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REVIEW article

Front. Neurol.
Sec. Neuro-Ophthalmology
Volume 15 - 2024 | doi: 10.3389/fneur.2024.1486139

Update on Central Factors in Myopia Development Beyond Intraocular Mechanisms

Provisionally accepted
Ruikang Tian Ruikang Tian 1Xiao-Xue Tian Xiao-Xue Tian 2Hai-Bo Yang Hai-Bo Yang 3Yi-Ping Wu Yi-Ping Wu 4*
  • 1 State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Optometry and Vision Science, Affiliated Eye Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang Province, China
  • 2 School of Clinical Medicine, Shandong Second Medical University, Weifang, Shandong Province, China
  • 3 Department of Ophthalmology, Nanjing BenQ Hospital, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, Nanjing, Liaoning Province, China
  • 4 Department of Ophthalmology, Eye Hospital of Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, China, Jinan, Shandong Province, China

The final, formatted version of the article will be published soon.

    Myopia, a prevalent refractive error, primarily affects children and adolescents, characterized by excessive axial elongation causing distant objects to focus in front of the retina. This review explores the intricate mechanisms beyond intraocular factors, emphasizing the significant role of central factors in myopia development and progression. Intraocular mechanisms involving the retina, RPE/choroid, and sclera are well documented, with these structures playing crucial roles in eye growth regulation. Central factors, including brain structure and function alterations, are increasingly recognized, supported by advanced imaging techniques such as fMRI and rs-fMRI. Clinical findings highlight changes in brain activity and connectivity in high myopia (HM), suggesting neural plasticity or compensatory mechanisms. Animal studies further elucidate central mechanisms, indicating the involvement of specific brain nuclei like the visual cortex and suprachiasmatic nucleus. Understanding these complex interactions between intraocular and central mechanisms is crucial for developing novel therapeutic strategies to inhibit myopia progression and prevent associated complications. This review aims to provide a comprehensive analysis of current research, contributing to a deeper understanding of central factors of myopia.

    Keywords: Myopia, Intraocular mechanisms, Central factors, Brain nuclei, refraction

    Received: 25 Aug 2024; Accepted: 31 Oct 2024.

    Copyright: © 2024 Tian, Tian, Yang and Wu. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

    * Correspondence: Yi-Ping Wu, Department of Ophthalmology, Eye Hospital of Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, China, Jinan, Shandong Province, China

    Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.