Genetic variation affects morphological retinal phenotypes extracted from UK Biobank optical coherence tomography images.

Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) enables non-invasive imaging of the retina and is used to diagnose and manage ophthalmic diseases including glaucoma. We present the first large-scale genome-wide association study of inner retinal morphology using phenotypes derived from OCT images of 31,434 UK Biobank participants. We identify 46 loci associated with thickness of the retinal nerve fibre layer or ganglion cell inner plexiform layer. Only one of these loci has been associated with glaucoma, and despite its clear role as a biomarker for the disease, Mendelian randomisation does not support inner retinal thickness being on the same genetic causal pathway as glaucoma. We extracted overall retinal thickness at the fovea, representative of foveal hypoplasia, with which three of the 46 SNPs were associated. We additionally associate these three loci with visual acuity. In contrast to the Mendelian causes of severe foveal hypoplasia, our results suggest a spectrum of foveal hypoplasia, in part genetically determined, with consequences on visual function.

Correction: Genetic variation affects morphological retinal phenotypes extracted from UK Biobank optical coherence tomography images.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1009497.].

L-arginine and aged garlic extract for the prevention of migraine: a study protocol for a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase-II trial (LARGE trial).

BACKGROUND: Migraine is a common and distressing neurological condition characterised by recurrent throbbing headaches, nausea and heightened sensitivity to light and sound. Accumulating evidence suggests that cerebral arteries dilate during migraine, causing distal microvessels to constrict, which could activate nociceptors and cause onset of headache pain. If so, preventing or attenuating chronic microvascular constriction, and promoting a dilatory phenotype, may reduce frequency and/or severity of migraines. The primary aim of the L-Arginine and Aged Garlic Extract (LARGE) trial is to investigate whether oral treatment with dietary nutraceuticals, L-arginine and aged garlic extract (AGE), both systemic vasodilatory agents, will alleviate migraine frequency, duration and severity in adults with chronic frequent episodic migraines. METHODS: The study is a randomised double-blind placebo-controlled phase-II single-site clinical trial conducted in Perth, Australia. The target sample is to recruit 240 participants diagnosed with chronic frequent episodic migraines between 18 and 80 years of age. Participants will be randomised to one of four treatment groups for 14 weeks (placebo induction for 2 weeks, followed by 12 weeks on one of the respective treatment arms): placebo, L-arginine, AGE, or a combination of L-arginine and AGE. The doses of L-arginine and AGE are 1.5 g and 1 g daily, respectively. The primary outcome is to assess migraine response using change in migraine frequency and intensity between baseline and 12 weeks. Secondary outcomes include the impact of L-arginine and/or AGE on photosensitivity, retinal vessel changes, and blood biomarker concentrations of vascular tone, following a 12-week intervention. DISCUSSION: The protocol describes the oral administration of 2 nutraceutical-based interventions as possible prophylactic treatments for chronic frequent episodic migraines, with potential for direct clinical translation of outcomes. Potential limitations of the study include the fixed-dose design of each treatment arm and that in vivo neuroimaging methods, such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), will not be conducted to determine putative cerebro-vasodilatory changes to coincide with the outcome measures. Dose-response studies may be indicated. TRIAL REGISTRATION: The trial was retrospectively registered with the Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry ACTRN12621001476820 (Universal Trial Number: U1111-1268-1117) on 04/08/2021. This is protocol version 1, submitted on 25/11/2022.

Localised relative scotoma in cuticular drusen.

PURPOSE: To investigate retinal sensitivity changes in eyes with pure cuticular drusen. METHODS: Multimodal imaging and microperimetry (37-loci grid) data were examined retrospectively to evaluate functional changes in eyes with pure cuticular drusen. Mean sensitivity in the cuticular drusen cohort was compared to age-matched normals. An age- and loci-specific normative reference was created to analyse localised sensitivity deviation. RESULTS: The mean number loci with relative scotoma in the cuticular drusen cohort (n = 27, mean [SD] age: 48.5 [12.4] years) referenced to normal eyes (n = 80, 53.5 [14.6] years) was 5.5 (95% confidence interval 3.0 to 8.1). However, mean sensitivity was not statistically different to the age-matched normal cohort (95% CI, - 2.3 to + 3.4 dB). The 37-loci grid was stratified into three rings of the approximately same number of loci, and the percentage of cuticular drusen eyes with pointwise deviation was significantly lower in the inner compared to the middle ring (12.3 [5.3]% vs. 17.3 [5.1]%, p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Eyes with cuticular drusen demonstrated relative scotoma, but mean sensitivity was not affected. Pointwise sensitivity provides a more robust measure of retinal sensitivity than mean sensitivity in cuticular drusen and should be assessed both in the clinic and in future clinical trials.

Association between dietary niacin and retinal nerve fibre layer thickness in healthy eyes of different ages.

BACKGROUND: To investigate the relationship between dietary intake of niacin (water-soluble form of vitamin B3 ) and retinal nerve fibre layer (RNFL) thickness in healthy eyes. METHODS: This cross-sectional study examined the association between daily niacin intake and RNFL thickness in three large population-based cohorts with varied age differences. RNFL thickness was extracted from optical coherence tomography data; energy-adjusted niacin intake was estimated from food frequency questionnaires. Linear mixed-effects models were utilised to examine the association between RNFL thickness and energy-adjusted niacin intake. Three separate analyses were conducted, with niacin treated as a continuous, a categorical (quartiles) or a dichotomous (above/below Australian recommended daily intake) variable. RESULTS: In total, 4937 subjects were included in the study [Raine Study Gen2, n = 1204, median age 20; Busselton Healthy Ageing Study (BHAS), n = 1791, median age 64; TwinsUK, n = 1942, median age 64). When analysed as a continuous variable, there was no association between RNFL thickness and niacin intake in any of the three cohorts (95% CI ß: Raine Study Gen 2, -0.174 to 0.074; BHAS, -0.066 to 0.078; TwinsUK -0.435 to 0.350). Similar findings were observed with quartiles of niacin intake and for niacin intakes above or below Australian recommended daily intake levels in all three cohorts. CONCLUSIONS: Dietary intake of niacin from a standard diet does not appear to be associated with age-related RNFL thinning in healthy eyes. Supraphysiological doses of niacin may be required for therapeutic effect in the retina.

Increased interdigitation zone visibility on optical coherence tomography following systemic fibroblast growth factor receptor 1-3 tyrosine kinase inhibitor anticancer therapy.

BACKGROUND: To describe ocular adverse events and retinal changes during fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR) inhibitor (AZD4547) anticancer therapy. METHODS: This is a sub-study examining ocular adverse effects from AZD4547 therapy (single-centre, open-label, single arm phase II clinical trial). Comprehensive ocular examinations were performed 3 weekly in 24 patients. Macular optical coherence tomography (OCT) scan (300 × 250 ) was obtained at each visit and OCT parameters [central 1 mm retinal thickness (CRT) and total macular volume in central 6 mm] extracted. OCT scans were subdivided into outer (ELM to RPE) and inner (ELM to ILM) layers to compare outer and inner retinal changes. RESULTS: In 24 patients, AZD4547 was associated with eyelash elongation (n = 5, 21%) and punctate corneal erosion (n = 2, 8%). One patient developed clinically significant posterior capsular opacification during the study. OCT data were available in 23 patients, retinal changes ranged from an asymptomatic increased visibility of the interdigitation zone (IDZ) (n = 10, 43%) to multilobular subretinal fluid pockets (n = 5, 22%), which was associated with mild visual acuity loss. In a subset of patients (n = 9) with pre-AZD4547 dosing OCT baseline, CRT increased by mean (SD) of 9 (4) µm in those with IDZ change only compared with 64 (38) µm in those with other retinal changes. Retinal changes tended to be bilateral, self-limiting and improved over time without medical intervention. CONCLUSIONS: The ocular signs and symptoms did not result in dose cessation. Posteriorly, FGFR inhibition leads to outer retinal changes ranging from increased visibility of IDZ to distinct, multiple fluid pockets.

Western Australia Atropine for the Treatment of Myopia (WA-ATOM) study: Rationale, methodology and participant baseline characteristics.

IMPORTANCE: Atropine eyedrops are a promising treatment for slowing myopia progression in East Asian children. However, its effects on children in Australia, including those of non-Asian background, have not been well-studied. BACKGROUND: The Western Australia Atropine for the Treatment of Myopia (WA-ATOM) study aims to determine the efficacy and long-term effects of low-dose atropine eyedrops in myopia control. This paper describes the study rationale, methodology and participant baseline characteristics. DESIGN: Single-centre, double-masked, randomized controlled trial. PARTICIPANTS: Children (6-16 years) with spherical equivalent ≤-1.50 D in each eye, astigmatism ≤1.50 D and myopia progression by ≥0.50 D/year. METHODS: Enrolled children were randomly assigned 2:1 to receive 0.01% atropine or placebo eyedrops. Participants are examined every 6 months during first 3 years of the study (2-year treatment phase followed by a 1-year washout phase), and then at a 5-year follow-up (2 years after the end of the washout phase). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Annual progression rate of myopia and axial length, tolerability to eyedrops and incidence and severity of unwanted effects. RESULTS: Out of 311 children who were referred, 242 were suitable for study participation, and 153 were subsequently enrolled. The baseline characteristics of enrolled participants are presented. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: Outcomes of the WA-ATOM study will inform on the efficacy, tolerability, safety and long-term effects of low-dose atropine eyedrops in myopia control in Australian children. The impact of ocular sun exposure, iris colour and parental myopia on the efficacy of low-dose atropine will also be assessed.

Autosomal Dominant Retinitis Pigmentosa Due to Class B Rhodopsin Mutations: An Objective Outcome for Future Treatment Trials.

Gene therapy for adRP due to RHO mutations was recently shown to prevent photoreceptor death in a canine model of Class B disease. Among translational steps to be taken, one is to determine a method to detect efficacy in a human clinical trial. The relatively slow progression of adRP becomes a difficulty for clinical trials requiring an answer to whether there is slowed progression of degeneration in response to therapy. We performed a single-center, retrospective observational study of cross-sectional and longitudinal data. The study was prompted by our identification of a pericentral disease distribution in Class B RHO-adRP. Ultrawide optical coherence tomography (OCT) scans were used. Inferior retinal pericentral defects was an early disease feature. Degeneration further inferior in the retina merged with the pericentral defect, which extended into superior retina. In about 70% of patients, there was an asymmetric island of structure with significantly greater superior than inferior ellipsoid zone (EZ) extent. Serial measures of photoreceptor structure by OCT indicated constriction in superior retinal extent within a two-year interval. We conclude that these results should allow early-phase trials of therapy in RHO-adRP to move forward by inclusion of patients with an asymmetric extent of photoreceptor structure and by monitoring therapeutic effects over two years in the superior retina, a reasonable target for subretinal injection.

Variegated yet non-random rod and cone photoreceptor disease patterns in RPGR-ORF15-associated retinal degeneration.

Mutations in the ORF15 exon of the RPGR gene cause a common form of X-linked retinitis pigmentosa, which often results in severe loss of vision. In dogs and mice, gene augmentation therapy has been shown to arrest the progressive degeneration of rod and cone photoreceptors. However, the distribution of potentially treatable photoreceptors across the human retinas and the rate of degeneration are not known. Here, we have defined structural and functional features of the disease in 70 individuals with ORF15 mutations. We also correlated the features observed in patients with those of three Rpgr-mutant (Rpgr-ko, Rd9, and Rpgr-cko) mice. In patients, there was pronounced macular disease. Across the retina, rod and cone dysfunction showed a range of patterns and a spectrum of severity between individuals, but a high symmetry was observed between eyes of each individual. Genotype was not related to disease expression. In the Rpgr-ko mice, there were intra-retinal differences in rhodopsin and cone opsin trafficking. In Rd9 and Rpgr-cko mice, retinal degeneration showed inter-ocular symmetry. Longitudinal results in patients revealed localized rod and cone dysfunction with progression rates of 0.8 to 1.3 log per decade in sensitivity loss. Relatively retained rod and cone photoreceptors in mid- and far-peripheral temporal-inferior and nasal-inferior visual field regions should be good targets for future localized gene therapies in patients.

Nonlinear Reduction in Hyperautofluorescent Ring Area in Retinitis Pigmentosa.

PURPOSE: To report baseline dimension of the autofluorescent (AF) ring in a large cohort of retinitis pigmentosa (RP) patients and to evaluate models of ring progression. DESIGN: Cohort study. PARTICIPANTS: Four hundred and forty-five eyes of 224 patients with clinical diagnosis of RP. METHODS: Autofluorescent rings from near-infrared AF (NIRAF) and short-wavelength AF (SWAF) imaging modalities in RP eyes were segmented with ring area and horizontal extent extracted from each image for cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses. In longitudinal analysis, for each eye, ring area, horizontal extent, and natural logarithm of the ring area were assessed as the best dependent variable for linear regression by evaluating R2 values. Linear mixed-effects modeling was utilized to account for intereye correlation. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Autofluorescent ring size characteristics at baseline and ring progression rates. RESULTS: A total of 439 eyes had SWAF imaging at baseline with the AF ring observed in 206 (46.9%) eyes. Mean (95% confidence interval) of ring area and horizontal extent were 7.85 (6.60 to 9.11) mm2 and 3.35 (3.10 to 3.60) mm, respectively. In NIRAF, the mean ring area and horizontal extent were 7.74 (6.60 to 8.89) mm2 and 3.26 (3.02 to 3.50) mm, respectively in 251 out of 432 eyes. Longitudinal analysis showed mean progression rates of -0.57 mm2/year and -0.12 mm/year in SWAF using area and horizontal extent as the dependent variable, respectively. When ln(Area) was analyzed as the dependent variable, mean progression was -0.07 ln(mm2)/year, which equated to 6.80% decrease in ring area per year. Similar rates were found in NIRAF (area: -0.59 mm2/year, horizontal extent: -0.12 mm/year and ln(Area): -0.08 ln(mm2)/year, equated to 7.75% decrease in area per year). Analysis of R2 showed that the dependent variable ln(Area) provided the best linear model for ring progression in both imaging modalities, especially in eyes with large overall area change. CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggest that using an exponential model to estimate progression of the AF ring area in RP is more appropriate than the models assuming linear decrease. Hence, the progression estimates provided in this study should provide more accurate reference points in designing clinical trials in RP patients. FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE(S): Proprietary or commercial disclosure may be found in the Footnotes and Disclosures at the end of this article.

Censoring the Floor Effect in Long-Term Stargardt Disease Microperimetry Data Produces a Faster Rate of Decline.

Purpose: To evaluate progression rate estimation in long-term Stargardt disease microperimetry data by accounting for floor effect. Design: Cohort study. Subjects: Thirty-seven subjects (23 females, 14 males) with biallelic ABCA4 pathogenic or likely pathogenic variants and more than >2 years of longitudinal microperimetry data. Methods: Cross-sectional and longitudinal microperimetry data (Grid A: 18° diameter, Grid B: 6° diameter; Macular Integrity Assessment microperimeter, dynamic range 0-36 decibels [dB]) was extracted from patients with biallelic mutation in the adenosine triphosphate-binding cassette subfamily A member 4 (ABCA4) gene. For each eye, mean sensitivity (MS) and responding point sensitivity (RPS) rates were extracted. Floor censored sensitivity (FCS) progression rate, which accounts for the floor effect at each locus by terminating calculation when scotoma was observed in 2 consecutive visits, was also calculated. In a subset of eyes with ≥1 scotomatous locus at baseline (Grid A), sensitivity progression of loci around the scotoma (edge of scotoma sensitivity [ESS]) was examined against other progression parameters. Paired t test compared progression rate parameters across the same eyes. Main Outcome Measures: Microperimetry grid parameters at baseline and progression rates. Results: A total of 37 subjects with biallelic ABCA4 mutations and >2 years of longitudinal microperimetry data were included in the study. In Grid A, at baseline, the average MS and RPS were 16.5 ± 7.9 and 19.1 ± 5.7 dB, respectively. Similar MS (18.4 ± 7.6 dB) and RPS (20.0 ± 5.5 dB) values were found at baseline for Grid B. In Grid A, overall, MS, RPS, and FCS progression rates were -0.57 ± 1.05, -0.74 ± 1.24, and -1.26 ± 1.65 (all dB/year), respectively. Floor censored sensitivity progression rate was significantly greater than the MS or RPS progression rates. Similar findings were observed in Grid B (MS -1.22 ± 1.42, RPS -1.44 ± 1.44, FCS -2.16 ± 2.24, all dB/year), with paired t test again demonstrated that FCS had a significantly faster rate of decline than MS or RPS. In patients with progression data in both grids, MS, RPS, and FCS progression rates were significantly faster in the smaller Grid B. In 24 eyes with scotoma at baseline, fastest rate of decline was ESS combined with FCS compared with other progression parameters. Conclusions: Incorporation of FCS can reduce confound of floor effect in perimetry analysis and can in turn detect a faster rate of decline. Financial Disclosures: Proprietary or commercial disclosure may be found in the Footnotes and Disclosures at the end of this article.

Multicenter Normative Data for Mesopic Microperimetry.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to provide a large, multi-center normative dataset for the Macular Integrity Assessment (MAIA) microperimeter and compare the goodness-of-fit and prediction interval calibration-error for a panel of hill-of-vision models. Methods: Microperimetry examinations of healthy eyes from five independent study groups and one previously available dataset were included (1137 tests from 531 eyes of 432 participants [223 women and 209 men]). Linear mixed models (LMMs) were fitted to the data to obtain interpretable hill-of-vision models. A panel of regression models to predict normative data was compared using cross-validation with site-wise splits. The mean absolute error (MAE) and miscalibration area (area between the calibration curve and the ideal diagonal) were evaluated as the performance measures. Results: Based on the parameters "participant age," "eccentricity from the fovea," "overlap with the central fixation target," and "eccentricity along the four principal meridians," a Bayesian mixed model had the lowest MAE (2.13 decibel [dB]; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.9-2.36 dB) and miscalibration area (0.13; 95% CI = 0.07-0.19). However, a parsimonious linear model provided a comparable MAE (2.17 dB; 95% CI = 1.93-2.4 dB) and a similar miscalibration area (0.14; 95% CI = 0.08-0.2). Conclusions: Normal variations in visual sensitivity on mesopic microperimetry can be effectively explained by a linear model that includes age and eccentricity. The dataset and a code vignette are provided for estimating normative values across a large range of retinal locations, applicable to customized testing patterns.

Using optical coherence tomography and optical coherence tomography angiography to delineate neurovascular homeostasis in migraine: a review.

Migraine is one of the world's most debilitating disorders, and it has recently been shown that changes in the retina can be a potential biomarker for the disease. These changes can be detected by optical coherence tomography (OCT), which measures retinal thickness, and optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA), which measures vessel density. We searched the databases Google Scholar, ProQuest, Scopus, and Web of Science for studies in English using OCT and OCTA in migraineurs, using the search terms "optical coherence tomography," "OCT," "optical coherence tomography angiography," "OCTA" and "migraine." We found 73 primary studies, 11 reviews, and 8 meta-analyses pertaining to OCT and OCTA findings in migraineurs. They showed that migraineurs had reduced retinal thickness (via OCT), retinal vessel density, and greater foveal avascular zone area (via OCTA) than controls. OCTA changes reflect a perfusion compromise occurring in migraineurs as opposed to in healthy controls. OCT and OCTA deficits were worse in migraine-with-aura and chronic migraine than in migraine-without-aura and episodic migraine. Certain areas of the eye, such as the fovea, may be more vulnerable to these perfusion changes than other parts. Direct comparison between study findings is difficult because of the heterogeneity between the studies in terms of both methodology and analysis. Moreover, as almost all case-control studies were cross-sectional, more longitudinal cohort studies are needed to determine cause and effect between migraine pathophysiology and OCT/OCTA findings. Current evidence suggests both OCT and OCTA may serve as retinal markers for migraineurs, and further research in this field will hopefully enable us to better understand the vascular changes associated with migraine, perhaps also providing a new diagnostic and therapeutic biomarker.

Increased susceptibility to injury in older eyes.

PURPOSE: To determine whether there is an age-dependent susceptibility in retinal function in response to repeated anterior chamber cannulation with or without intraocular pressure (IOP) elevation. METHODS: Baseline electroretinograms were measured in 3- and 18-month-old Sprague-Dawley rats (n = 16 each group). Following baseline assessment, eyes were randomly assigned to undergo a 60-min anterior chamber cannulation with IOP either left at baseline (sham, 15 mm Hg) or elevated to 60 mm Hg. This was repeated three additional times, with each episode separated by 1 week. At weeks 1 to 3, dark-adapted retinal function was assessed immediately before cannulation, with final functional assessment at week 4. RESULTS: Both sham and IOP elevated eyes of older rats showed retinal dysfunction, which became more pronounced with the number of repeated insults. This effect was largest for responses arising from the inner retina. Repeated insult in younger eyes did not produce a change in amplitude but an increase in the sensitivity to light of photoreceptoral and bipolar cell components of the electroretinogram. CONCLUSIONS: Repeated trauma, not IOP, produces permanent retinal dysfunction in older eyes. Younger eyes appear to be able to withstand this type of injury by upregulating sensitivity of outer and middle retinal responses to maintain normal inner retinal function.

Deep learning: applications in retinal and optic nerve diseases.

Deep learning (DL) represents a paradigm-shifting, burgeoning field of research with emerging clinical applications in optometry. Unlike traditional programming, which relies on human-set specific rules, DL works by exposing the algorithm to a large amount of annotated data and allowing the software to develop its own set of rules (i.e. learn) by adjusting the parameters inside the model (network) during a training process in order to complete the task on its own. One major limitation of traditional programming is that, with complex tasks, it may require an extensive set of rules to accurately complete the assignment. Additionally, traditional programming can be susceptible to human bias from programmer experience. With the dramatic increase in the amount and the complexity of clinical data, DL has been utilised to automate data analysis and thus to assist clinicians in patient management. This review will present the latest advances in DL, for managing posterior eye diseases as well as DL-based solutions for patients with vision loss.

Microperimetry and Adaptive Optics Imaging Reveal Localized Functional and Structural Changes in Asymptomatic RPGR Mutation Carriers.

Purpose: Female carriers of RPGR mutations demonstrate no significant retinal dysfunction or structural change despite a characteristic tapetal-like reflex. In this study, we examined localized changes of pointwise sensitivity (PWS) and cone density (CD) using microperimetry (MP) and adaptive optics (AO) imaging in female carriers of RPGR mutations. Methods: In this cross-sectional case-control study, MP (MAIA, 10-2 test grid) and AO imaging (rtx1) were performed in female carriers of RPGR mutations and unrelated age-matched healthy controls. PWS at 68 loci located 1 degree to 9 degrees away from the preferred retinal locus and CD at 12 loci located 1 degree to 3 degrees away from the foveal center were measured. Severity of defect was defined by standard deviation (SD) from age-matched healthy control means: normal (<1 SD from normal average), moderate defect (1-2 SD from normal average), and severe defect (>2 SD from normal average). Results: Twelve patients from seven unrelated families were enrolled. Seven patients were asymptomatic, 5 of whom had visual acuity 20/20 or better in both eyes. PWS and CD were available in 12 and 8 patients, respectively. Severe PWS and CD defect in at least 1 test location was observed in 10 of 12 patients and 7 of 8 patients, respectively. Among the five asymptomatic patients who had normal visual acuity, severe PWS and CD defects were observed in three of five and four of five patients, respectively. Conclusions: MP and AO imaging revealed early functional and structural changes in asymptomatic RPGR mutation carriers and should be considered in clinical assessment of these patients.

Distribution of Axial Length in Australians of Different Age Groups, Ethnicities, and Refractive Errors.

Purpose: Treatments are available to slow myopic axial elongation. Understanding normal axial length (AL) distributions will assist clinicians in choosing appropriate treatment for myopia. We report the distribution of AL in Australians of different age groups and refractive errors. Methods: Retrospectively collected spherical equivalent refraction (SER) and AL data of 5938 individuals aged 5 to 89 years from 8 Australian studies were included. Based on the SER, participants were classified as emmetropes, myopes, and hyperopes. Two regression model parameterizations (piece-wise and restricted cubic splines [RCS]) were applied to the cross-sectional data to analyze the association between age and AL. These results were compared with longitudinal data from the Raine Study where the AL was measured at age 20 (baseline) and 28 years. Results: A piece-wise regression model (with 1 knot) showed that myopes had a greater increase in AL before 18 years by 0.119 mm/year (P < 0.001) and after 18 years by 0.011 mm/year (P < 0.001) compared to emmetropes and hyperopes, with the RCS model (with 3 knots) showing similar results. The longitudinal data from the Raine Study revealed that, when compared to emmetropes, only myopes showed a significant change in the AL in young adulthood (by 0.016 mm/year, P < 0.001). Conclusions: The AL of myopic eyes increases more rapidly in childhood and slightly in early adulthood. Further studies of longitudinal changes in AL, particularly in childhood, are required to guide myopia interventions. Translational Relevance: The axial length of myopic eyes increases rapidly in childhood, and there is a minimal increase in the axial length in non-myopic eyes after 18 years of age.

Conjunctival ultraviolet autofluorescence area decreases with age and sunglasses use.

BACKGROUND: Conjunctival ultraviolet autofluorescence (CUVAF) is a method of detecting conjunctival damage related to ultraviolet radiation exposure. In cross-sectional studies, CUVAF area is positively associated with self-reported time spent outdoors and pterygium and negatively associated with myopia; however, longitudinal studies are scarce. AIMS: To use a novel deep learning-based tool to assess 8-year change in CUVAF area in young adults, investigate factors associated with this change and identify the number of new onset pterygia. METHODS: A deep learning-based CUVAF tool was developed to measure CUVAF area. CUVAF area and pterygium status were assessed at three study visits: baseline (participants were approximately 20 years old) and at 7-year and 8-year follow-ups. Participants self-reported sun protection behaviours and ocular history. RESULTS: CUVAF data were available for 1497 participants from at least one study visit; 633 (43%) participants had complete CUVAF data. Mean CUVAF areas at baseline and the 7-year and 8-year follow-ups were 48.4, 39.3 and 37.7 mm2, respectively. There was a decrease in mean CUVAF area over time (change in total CUVAF area=-0.96 mm2 per year (95% CI: -1.07 to -0.86)). For participants who wore sunglasses ≥1/2 of the time, CUVAF area decreased by an additional -0.42 mm2 per year (95% CI: -0.72 to -0.12) on average. Fourteen (1.5%) participants developed a pterygium. CONCLUSIONS: In this young adult cohort, CUVAF area declined over an 8-year period. Wearing sunglasses was associated with a faster reduction in CUVAF area. Deep learning-based models can assist in accurate and efficient measurement of CUVAF area.

A new polygenic score for refractive error improves detection of children at risk of high myopia but not the prediction of those at risk of myopic macular degeneration.

BACKGROUND: High myopia (HM), defined as a spherical equivalent refractive error (SER) ≤ -6.00 diopters (D), is a leading cause of sight impairment, through myopic macular degeneration (MMD). We aimed to derive an improved polygenic score (PGS) for predicting children at risk of HM and to test if a PGS is predictive of MMD after accounting for SER. METHODS: The PGS was derived from genome-wide association studies in participants of UK Biobank, CREAM Consortium, and Genetic Epidemiology Research on Adult Health and Aging. MMD severity was quantified by a deep learning algorithm. Prediction of HM was quantified as the area under the receiver operating curve (AUROC). Prediction of severe MMD was assessed by logistic regression. FINDINGS: In independent samples of European, African, South Asian and East Asian ancestry, the PGS explained 19% (95% confidence interval 17-21%), 2% (1-3%), 8% (7-10%) and 6% (3-9%) of the variation in SER, respectively. The AUROC for HM in these samples was 0.78 (0.75-0.81), 0.58 (0.53-0.64), 0.71 (0.69-0.74) and 0.67 (0.62-0.72), respectively. The PGS was not associated with the risk of MMD after accounting for SER: OR = 1.07 (0.92-1.24). INTERPRETATION: Performance of the PGS approached the level required for clinical utility in Europeans but not in other ancestries. A PGS for refractive error was not predictive of MMD risk once SER was accounted for. FUNDING: Supported by the Welsh Government and Fight for Sight (24WG201).