Advancing our understanding of myopia and microphthalmia

GR001357

29 November 2024

We’re supporting a Research Training fellowship by Dr Daniel Jackson that aims to pinpoint common molecular causes of myopia and microphthalmia and develop therapies for patients.

What is myopia?

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Myopia (short-sightedness) occurs when the eye grows too long and the light coming through the lens is not focusing properly on the retina but rather in front of the retina, which makes objects in the distance appear blurry.

What is microphthalmia?

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Microphthalmia is a form of underdeveloped eye condition when a baby is born with abnormally small eyes.

Dr Daniel Jackson is a clinical research fellow at Royal Berkshire Hospital specialising in ophthalmology with an interest in paediatrics and genetics. His investigations will help us better understand which genetic factors may determine the length of our eyes, and how researchers and clinicians might manipulate them to induce or reduce growth accordingly.

11%

Microphthalmia has been found in up to 11% of blind children.

50%

Myopia / short-sightedness affects almost 50% of all UK adults, and as high as 90% in children from East Asia.

By better understanding what controls the growth of the eye, I hope to be able to find a way to alter eye growth with a medicine that can act on these key genes. This could potentially lead to a treatment to encourage further eye growth in those with small eyes, or limit excessive growth for those with longer eyes.

Dr Daniel Jackson, clinical research fellow