Changes in visual cortical function in moderately myopic patients: a functional near-infrared spectroscopy study.

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Ophthalmology
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• Myopia, or nearsightedness, affects visual cortex function.
• Functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) measures haemoglobin oxygenation changes.

Purpose of the Study:

• Investigate haemoglobin oxygenation in the visual cortex of myopic patients.
• Assess the impact of refractive correction on visual cortex activity.

Main Methods:

• Used fNIRS to measure visual cortex haemoglobin oxygenation.
• Compared normal controls, uncorrected myopes, and corrected myopes.
• Induced temporary myopia in emmetropes to observe functional changes.

Main Results:

• Uncorrected myopes showed significantly lower visual cortex activity (Δβ) than emmetropes.
• Optical correction normalized visual cortex activity in myopic patients.
• Induced myopia reduced visual cortex activity, which recovered after lens removal.

Conclusions:

• Myopic defocus decreases haemoglobin oxygenation in the visual cortex.
• Optical correction effectively restores visual cortex function in myopia.