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Updated: Jun 3, 2026
07:20
Inducement and Evaluation of a Murine Model of Experimental Myopia
Published on: January 22, 2019
Selective breeding for susceptibility to myopia reveals a gene-environment interaction
Yen-Po Chen1, Paul M Hocking, Ling Wang
1School of Optometry and Vision Sciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK.
Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science
|March 26, 2011
Summary
Genetic factors significantly influence susceptibility to myopia induced by visual stimuli in chicks. Selective breeding created high and low myopia susceptibility lines, demonstrating a clear genetic basis for refractive development.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Genetics
- Developmental Biology
Background:
- Interanimal variability in refractive development is a significant factor in eye research.
- Understanding the genetic and environmental influences on myopia is crucial for developing effective interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the genetic determination of susceptibility to visually induced myopia.
- To establish and characterize selectively bred lines of chicks with differing myopia susceptibility.
Main Methods:
- Monocular deprivation of sharp vision (DSV) was used to induce myopia in White Leghorn chicks.
- Selective breeding was employed over two generations to create high- and low-susceptibility lines based on responses to DSV.
- Ocular components and refractive error were measured to quantify myopia.
Main Results:
- The high-susceptibility line developed approximately twice the myopia of the low-susceptibility line after 4 days of DSV (P < 0.001).
- Significant differences in ocular dimensions and refractive error were observed between the selected lines, both at baseline and after treatment.
- Additive genetic effects accounted for approximately 50% of the variability in response to DSV.
Conclusions:
- Susceptibility to visually induced myopia in chicks has a significant genetic component.
- Genes and environmental factors interact to influence the development of refractive errors.
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