Cookies on this website

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you click 'Accept all cookies' we'll assume that you are happy to receive all cookies and you won't see this message again. If you click 'Reject all non-essential cookies' only necessary cookies providing core functionality such as security, network management, and accessibility will be enabled. Click 'Find out more' for information on how to change your cookie settings.

Astigmatism is a common refractive error that reduces vision, where the curvature and refractive power of the cornea in one meridian are less than those of the perpendicular axis. It is a complex trait likely to be influenced by both genetic and environmental factors. Twin studies of astigmatism have found approximately 60% of phenotypic variance is explained by genetic factors. This study aimed to identify susceptibility loci for astigmatism.We performed a meta-analysis of seven genome-wide association studies that included 22,100 individuals of European descent, where astigmatism was defined as the number of diopters of cylinder prescription, using fixed effect inverse variance-weighted methods.A susceptibility locus was identified with lead single nucleotide polymorphism rs3771395 on chromosome 2p13.3 (meta-analysis, P = 1.97 × 10(-7)) in the VAX2 gene. VAX2 plays an important role in the development of the dorsoventral axis of the eye. Animal studies have shown a gradient in astigmatism along the vertical plane, with corresponding changes in refraction, particularly in the ventral field.This finding advances the understanding of refractive error, and provides new potential pathways to be evaluated with regard to the development of astigmatism.

Original publication

DOI

10.1167/iovs.12-10463

Type

Journal article

Journal

Investigative ophthalmology & visual science

Publication Date

02/2013

Volume

54

Pages

1260 - 1267

Addresses

Department of Twin Research and Genetic Epidemiology, King's College London, St. Thomas' Hospital, London, United Kingdom.

Keywords

Chromosomes, Human, Pair 2, Humans, Astigmatism, Genetic Predisposition to Disease, Homeodomain Proteins, Registries, Environment, Genotype, Phenotype, Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide, Adolescent, Adult, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Middle Aged, Australia, Netherlands, Female, Male, Genome-Wide Association Study, Young Adult, United Kingdom