Genes for Myopia discovered

Researchers from the Department of Twin Research at King’s College London have identified genes associated with two common eye problems, myopia and glaucoma. The findings have been published in this week’s edition of Nature Genetics.

In their study of over 4,000 twins, the researchers identified a myopia susceptibility gene called RASGRF1, which has been replicated in over 13,000 other people from the UK, the Netherlands and Australia. The same group of twins have also replicated findings related to myopia in a study from Rotterdam. In addition the King’s authors helped to identify two new genes for glaucoma in an Icelandic study.

Dr Christopher Hammond, senior author from the Department of Twin Research at King’s College London said: ‘Myopia, or short sight, is the most common eye problem, affecting over a third of adults in the UK, with not only the associated costs and inconvenience of glasses and contact lenses, but also people who are extremely short-sighted carry significant risks of future vision loss. While we believe that environmental risk factors such as a lot of close work and lack of outdoor activity are implicated, we have not previously understood exactly how people become short-sighted.’

Dr Pirro Hysi, the lead author of the study, added: ‘We have known for many years that the most important risk factor for being short-sighted is having parents who are short-sighted, and for the first time we are identifying genes that may be involved in passing on this susceptibility. By identifying biological pathways causing myopia, we hope to be able to develop treatments in the future that will prevent or stop myopia progressing.’

The TwinsUK cohort of adult twin volunteers have been able to help identify genes involved in many common diseases, including glaucoma, which is the most common cause of untreatable blindness in the world.