Myopia: from genes and environment to cellular responses and Treatment

About MyoTreat

The Marie Sklodowska-Curie Doctoral Network MyoTreat addresses the urgent need for more effective treatment interventions and earlier diagnosis of myopia (nearsightedness). We aim to understand the complex disease myopia with its multifactorial etiology and will develop much needed ideas and strategies as to investigate the mechanisms that control the development of refraction to find answers on how to prevent myopia development in children.

The network combines leading European universities with the private sector. The consortium includes 6 beneficiaries and 4 associated partners from 7 European countries (DE, NL, AT, NO, FR, UK, CH).

The network aligns with EU health policy and the UN Sustainable Development Goal to improve the health and well-being of citizens.

Start date: december 01, 2023 - duration: 48 months

Call: HORIZON-MSCA-2022-DN-01

consortium

Myopia

commonly known as nearsightedness, refers to a refractive eye condition that affects a person's ability to see distant objects clearly. It is a prevalent visual impairment that has become increasingly common in recent decades. Myopia occurs when the eyeball is longer than normal or when the cornea has excessive curvature. Individuals with myopia experience clear vision when looking at nearby objects, such as reading a book or using a computer, but encounter difficulty focusing on objects that are farther away. This condition occurs because the light that is entering the eye focuses in front of the retina, leading to the formation of a blurred image on the retina.

Myopia has become a massive ocular health problem, not only because of its high prevalence which causes an enormous global economic burden due to the need of glasses/contact lenses, but also because of complications which are associated with the excessive eye length growth and which cause a significant individual risk of blindness already in the middle of the life. The WHO report form 2019 estimated that the number of people with myopia will increase from 1.95 billion in 2010 to 3.36 billion in 2030. During the same period, the number of people with high myopia (refraction ≤ - 6 D), often associated with severe complications, is projected to increase by 86% to 516 million in 2030. Irrespective of the extent of myopia, the risk of myopic macular degeneration increases by 67% for each dioptre.

Myopia typically develops during the school years, progressing until adulthood. Myopia is influenced by various factors, including genetic predisposition to myopia. Research suggests that genetics play a significant role, with children having myopic parents being more prone to developing the condition. However, to date genetic variants can still only explain about 10% of low myopia and about 20% of high myopia. This suggests a role for gene-environment interactions in myopia development and an important influence of environmental factors themselves. A causal link between increased years of education and more myopia has been confirmed whereas increased time outdoors has a protective effect.

Common solutions include wearing prescription eyeglasses or contact lenses that compensate for the refractive error and allow for clear distance vision. In recent years, there have been advancements in myopia management techniques aimed at slowing down the progression of the condition. These approaches may involve orthokeratology (wearing specialized contact lenses overnight), pharmaceutical interventions, or specialized eyeglass lenses designed to reduce myopia progression. However, even with the correction, myopia is still progressing and can lead to complications such as retinal detachment, glaucoma, and cataracts. Therefore, it is crucial to implement myopia control strategies as soon as possible.