Elucidation of the mechanism of eye deformation caused by pathological myopia and establishment of eye wall regeneration therapy

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19H03808
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 56060:Ophthalmology-related
• Research Institution: Tokyo Medical and Dental University
• Principal Investigator: Ohno-Matsui Kyoko 東京医科歯科大学, 大学院医歯学総合研究科, 教授 (30262174)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 鴨居 功樹 東京医科歯科大学, 大学院医歯学総合研究科, 講師 (40451942) ; 田中 敏博 東京医科歯科大学, 統合研究機構, 教授 (50292850)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: 近視 / 強膜 / 眼球形状

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Using ultra-wide angle OCT and 3D MRI, long-term observation of cases in various age groups from childhood to middle age and beyond was conducted to analyze ocular shape abnormalities. The results showed that scleral shape abnormalities had already begun in childhood on the nasal side of the optic nerve papilla, indicating that eye shape abnormalities in pathological myopia had already occurred in childhood. In middle-aged and older adults, the choroid and sclera become thinner and thinner, and as a result, the location of the eye shape abnormality differs from that in childhood, and the shape abnormality also progresses over time. To control the shape abnormality, we developed a prototype photocrosslinking therapy probe for the posterior sclera and confirmed scleral sclerosis in a rabbit model.

Free Research Field

眼科学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

今回の研究成果により、小児期にすでに中高年以降に高度の眼球形状異常にいたる症例を同定することができることが示された。そのことにより、通常の学童近視と、失明に至る病的近視を若い時期に区別することが可能となり、失明予防に極めて重要な成果と考えらえる。