The University of
Valencia (Spain) apply-optical technology so far only used in astronomy to
study images of the universe in order to avoid the development of myopia,
considered the most common eye disease worldwide.
Robert Montes Mico,
Professor of Optics, has achieved one of the prestigious projects of the
European Research Council, awarded to senior researchers worldwide with a
budget of a million and a half Euros, to study for five years promoting signals
processes that generate myopia.
The results may imply
significant improvements in a significant public health problem as in the case
of myopia in Europe. The study aims to know in detail what are the signs
control accommodative processes that occur when the eye receives images on the retina.
Thus "we can
modify to control the growth experienced by the eye and prevent, for example,
changes its axial length as in the case of myopia" argues Montes Mico.
This project will use
visual simulation using adaptive optics technology, commonly used in the
astronomical search, to study the human eye and thus exhaustively verify these
signals. At a later stage, as stated by the researcher, "we hope to have
the tools to modify signals controlling eye accommodative processes using
optical devices to control the progression of myopia, especially in
children."
Myopia has become a
very important condition, besides being the most common eye disease
(representing 80%). On one hand, the increase of myopia increases the risk of
blindness, glaucoma, retinopathy, retinal detachment or cataracts. And,
moreover, it has been shown an increase in prevalence of the disease in
developed countries because; in addition to hereditary factors linked to myopia
close visions.
In fact, in the U.S. in
30 years, has gone from myopia affect 25% of the population to 42% and,
therefore, to incur an annual cost of 7,200 million dollars, according to
Robert Montes Mico. Prevalence in Africa or India is 10%, from 15% in South
America and 60 to 80% in parts of Asia (up to 90 in China and Taiwan), but for
genetic reasons.
So far there is no
effective therapy for healing, since myopia operations avoid the use of glasses
or contact lenses but do not eliminate the disease. For this reason, this
project of the University of Valencia "will advance the treatment of
myopia and prevent its development with the creation of glasses or that slow
the progression of the disease or end up with it at the same time provide an
update on its condition in Europe, "says the professor.
Robert Montes Mico is
Doctor of Optometry and Neuroscience at the Institute of Science and
Technology, University of Manchester (UK) and develops its research activities
in the fields of accommodation, presbyopia and myopia. He currently leads a
group of twenty researchers and their research has helped to understand the
changes undergone by the human eye with age, especially those related to the
accommodation arising in presbyopia, as well as the best solutions to counter
with the development of contact or intraocular lenses.
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