Visual function and adaptation across the lifespan

目的：许多物种非常依赖视觉。人类大脑的很大一部分专门用于视觉功能，视觉障碍是最令人恐惧的残疾之一。眼睛和视觉系统确实能够适应环境的影响，打开有利改变结果的可能性，从而减少视觉损害。我的研究项目的长期目标是了解发育和衰老影响视觉系统的过程，以及这些过程在多大程度上可以被视觉经验或适应所改变。其中一个目标是利用屈光发育动物模型研究视觉体验改变对眼睛发育的影响。第二个目标是调查人类整个生命周期中视觉功能的变化。

Objectives: Many species rely heavily on vision. In humans large portions of the brain are dedicated to visual function, and visual impairment is one of the most highly feared disabilities. The eyes and visual system do appear to be capable of adaptation to environmental influences, opening the possibility of favorably altering outcomes, thus reducing visual impairment. The long term objective of my research program is to understand the processes by which development and aging affect the visual system and the extent to which these processes can be altered by visual experience or adaptation. One goal is to study the effects of altered visual experience on eye development using animal models of refractive development. A second goal is to investigate visual function change across the age range of the human lifespan. Approach: In animal models, novel lenses will be used to investigate the role of peripheral focus in eye growth control. The Hartmann-Shack technique, retinoscopy and ocular biometry will be used to investigate aberrations, astigmatism and diurnal variations in refraction as possible sources for the directional signal to eye growth in induced refractive error in animal models. Mathematical modeling across age of retrospective cross-sectional and longitudinal vision related human data will be used to study the effects of development and aging of visual functions. I am also proposing the development of a prospective cross-sectional database of individuals across the age range of the human lifespan for the study of visual function. Novelty: The novelty of this proposal lies in the use of a novel lens design to investigate control of eye growth; precise measurement of diurnal variation of higher order aberrations, refraction and intra-ocular pressure; the prospective study of visual function across the entire age range of the human lifespan for a large number of individuals; the availability of a database containing 25 years of detailed longitudinal vision related information. Significance: The prevalence of myopia is increasing and is now estimated to affect 43% of the North American population and up to 90% of Asian populations. In some populations the increase in the prevalence of myopia has occurred within a single generation suggesting that the change has occurred largely as the result of environmental influences. Preventative therapies have been unsuccessful reflecting the fact that the basic mechanisms which underlie refractive development are still unknown. Virtually every metric of visual function has a period of development to a maximum which subsequently declines into old age. Maximizing development and promoting healthy aging are priorities. Given that vision plays such a vital role in our quality of life, increasing our understanding of the rise and fall of visual function is vital for optimizing development and reducing decline, planning programs, and allocating resources.