Differences Between Emmetropic and Myopic Eyes: Implications for Myopia Development, its Progression, and Ocular Health

Myopia, traditionally known as nearsightedness or shortsightedness is associated with a high risk for potentially blinding conditions such as myopic maculopathy, retinal detachment, glaucoma, and others. The risk for these conditions increases with the amount of myopia. Several treatments are currently available in clinical practice to mitigate the progression of myopia, with the goal of ending with the lowest amount of myopia possible. These treatments include low-dose atropine eye drops, specially designed contact lenses, and specially designed ophthalmic lenses. These treatments do not usually fully control the progression of myopia, and we cannot predict which patients will benefit more from one or another treatment. The realm of myopia control remains a vibrant and evolving research arena with a multitude of unanswered questions. Investigating the anatomical, physiological, and functional features that characterize myopic eyes is essential to comprehend the intricate mechanisms that govern the complex problem of myopia development and progression. This ongoing pursuit of knowledge serves as a critical foundation for developing more effective strategies in managing myopia and its associated risks.

The goal of this Research Topic is to bring together different approaches to study the etiology of myopia development and its progression as well as the mechanism for myopia control treatments from a multidisciplinary angle. By putting together the body of knowledge that characterizes myopia, we will advance our understanding on its physiological, anatomical, and functional features. The final goal is to optimize diagnostic and therapeutic strategies aimed at mitigating the global burden of myopia.

This Research Topic aims to host all possible approaches to study the differences between emmetropic and myopic eyes, from an anatomical, optical, physiological, and functional perspective. We aim to bring together manuscripts that report research coming from distinctive fields of study. This will help create bridges between the different fields that can contribute to understanding the complex problem of myopia. Authors will be welcome to submit Original Research, Reviews, Clinical Trials, and Systematic Reviews. As examples, articles related to differences in s-cone retinal pathways, on and off pathways, retinal anatomy, anterior segment morphology, optical modelling, or ocular motility found between myopes and emmetropes are welcome in this article collection.