Evidence of vascular involvement in myopia: a review

Abstract

The benign public perception of myopia (nearsightedness) as a visual inconvenience masks the severity of its sight-threatening consequences. Myopia is a significant risk factor for posterior pole conditions such as maculopathy, choroidal neovascularization and glaucoma, all of which have a vascular component. These associations strongly suggest that myopic eyes might experience vascular alterations prior to the development of complications. Myopic eyes are out of focus because they are larger in size, which in turn affects their overall structure and function, including those of the vascular beds. By reviewing the vascular changes that characterize myopia, this review aims to provide an understanding of the gross, cellular and molecular alterations identified at the structural and functional levels with the goal to provide an understanding of the latest evidence in the field of experimental and clinical myopia vascular research. From the evidence presented, we hypothesize that the interaction between excessive myopic eye growth and vascular alterations are tipping-points for the development of sight-threatening changes.

Epitranscriptomic investigation of myopia-associated RNA editing in the retina

“…Vldlr encodes a receptor for very low-density lipoproteins in lipid metabolism, and Vldlr knockout mice show subretinal neovascularization that mimics retinal angiomatous proliferation in human patients ( Hu et al, 2008 ). Such findings were in line with a recent hypothesis that the interaction between excessive myopic eye growth and vascular alterations conferred risks of sight-threatening changes in the disease ( Benavente-Perez, 2023 ). The retina is highly vulnerable to ischemia/hypoxia due to its high oxygen demand and limited vascularity in the inner layers ( Yu and Cringle, 2001 ).…”

Aging in Ocular Blood Vessels: Molecular Insights and the Role of Oxidative Stress

“…It has been proposed that the connection between high myopia and vascular aging lies in the aggravating effects of age-related phenomena, such as decreased tissue perfusion and loss of endothelial cells, on the chorioretinal microvasculature, particularly impacting the diminished ocular blood flow observed in high myopia [68,82,126,127]. Consequently, these altered vascular conditions during aging may increase the susceptibility of high myopic eyes to vascular and age-related eye disorders, potentially leading to chorioretinal atrophy in high myopia [128].…”

Therapeutic Effects of Anti-Inflammatory and Anti-Oxidant Nutritional Supplementation in Retinal Ischemic Diseases

“…The suppressive effects of latoferrin on myopia progression may be related to anti-inflammation in the eye. Pathologic myopia is a degenerative condition in the sclera, choroid, and RPE caused by the dramatic elongation of axial length in the eye [105], which is associated with a reduction in ocular blood flow [106][107][108]. Although clinical studies are required for targeting ocular ischemic diseases, lactoferrin supplementation may prevent the development and progression of neovascular AMD or other types of macular degeneration.…”