Oculomotor functions and late-onset myopia

Abstract

In order to elucidate the role of optical defocus in the development of late-onset myopia (LOM), we employed both theoretical and experimental approaches. In the theoretical study, which has been reported previously, we suggested a model in which an accommodative sensory operator was added to simulate the sensory part of the accommodation system. Results derived from the model showed that the sensory part might increase the system’s threshold to the accommodative error (or defocus) signal. In this study, we measured the perceptual depth-of-focus and the system’s threshold to the defocus signal for three refractive error groups: emmetropic (Emm), stable myopic (S.M.), and progressing myopic (P.M.). Results show that there are no significant differences in the perceptual depth-of-focus among the three groups. However, the defocus threshold values of the P.M. group are significantly higher than the values of the other two groups. This result in combination with our previous findings, leads us to suggest that individuals susceptible of developing myopia from sustained near-work have a specific oculomotor risk profile. Although we are still trying to determine the specific sequence of changes among dark-focus, AC/A ratio, the accommodative system’s defocus threshold, and refractive error, we are convinced that the changes of oculomotor parameters underlie the type of myopia associated with near-work.