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Developing eyes that lack accommodation grow to compensate for imposed defocus

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 June 2009

Frank Schaeffel ,
David Troilo ,
Josh Wallman  and
Howard C. Howland
Frank Schaeffel
Affiliation:
Section of Neurobiology and Behavior, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York
David Troilo
Affiliation:
Department of Biology, City College of The City University of New York, New York
Josh Wallman
Affiliation:
Department of Biology, City College of The City University of New York, New York
Howard C. Howland
Affiliation:
Section of Neurobiology and Behavior, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York
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Abstract

The eyes of growing chicks adjust to correct for myopia (eye relatively long for the focal length of its optics) or hyperopia (eye relatively short for the focal length of its optics). Eyes made functionally hyperopic with negative spectacle lenses become myopic and long, whereas eyes made functionally myopic with positive spectacle lenses become hyperopic and short. We report here that these compensatory growth adjustments occur not only in normal eyes but also in eyes unable to accommodate (focus) because of lesions to the Edinger-Westphal nuclei. Thus, at least in chicks, accommodation is not necessary for growth that reduces refractive errors during development, and may not be necessary for the normal control of eye growth.

Keywords

EmmetropizationMyopiaHyperopiaChicksEdinger-Westphal nucleusAccommodation
Type
Short Communication
Information
Visual Neuroscience , Volume 4 , Issue 2 , February 1990 , pp. 177 - 183
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1990

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