Early Peripapillary Choroidal Thinning during Myopia Development: A Potential Biomarker for Progressive Myopia...

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Myopia Research
• Animal Models

Background:

• High myopia is a growing global health concern.
• Understanding the ocular tissue changes associated with myopia progression is crucial for developing effective interventions.
• Tree shrews serve as a valuable animal model for studying myopia due to their similar visual system to humans.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate longitudinal thickness changes in peripapillary tissues of tree shrew eyes.
• To analyze these changes in eyes with experimentally induced high myopia from juvenile age to early adulthood.

Main Methods:

• Juvenile tree shrews were assigned to a control or a -10 diopter lens wear group.
• Refraction, biometry, and optical coherence tomography (OCT) scans of the optic nerve head (ONH) were performed weekly for 19 weeks.
• Data were analyzed across three phases: myopia onset, development, and sustained high myopia.

Main Results:

• Eyes with progressive myopia exhibited rapid choroidal thinning during early development compared to non-progressive eyes.
• Sustained negative lens wear induced high myopia, with some cases becoming progressive.
• Accelerated thinning of the sclera and choroid was observed in progressive myopia cases, particularly in sectors near the posterior pole.

Conclusions:

• Sustained negative lens wear can induce progressive myopia in tree shrews.
• Early, profound choroidal thinning may serve as a biomarker for future myopia progression and axial elongation.
• Asymmetric chorioscleral thinning could contribute to optic nerve remodeling and elevate the risk of glaucoma.