Linjiang Lou, PhD, from Emory University School of Medicine Awarded $89,857 Knights Templar Eye Foundation Grant for Refractive Development and Retinal Dopamine Level Research

Linjiang Lou, PhD, from the Emory University School of Medicine, was awarded a $89,857 grant for Effects of Morning Versus Evening Bright Light Exposure on Refractive Development and Retinal Dopamine Levels.

Myopia (nearsightedness) is a condition that typically develops in early childhood years and results in blurry distance vision. The prevalence of myopia is rapidly increasing worldwide and has become a major public health concern. Spending increased time outdoors is protective against the development of myopia in children. While indoor and outdoor settings have many differences, the bright intensity of light is thought to be the causal factor. Bright light reduces the development of experimental myopia in animal models, however the period of the day when the bright light exposure occurs has been understudied.

Dr. Lou will examine whether the protective effect of bright light on the development of myopia is dependent on the time of day of exposure and the role of retinal dopamine, a molecule that is thought to be a “stop signal” for refractive eye growth, in this effect. She will also compare the effects of short-term and long-term exposure to bright light on retinal dopamine levels at different times of day. Dr. Lou’s research will increase understanding of the role of bright light exposure and dopamine in myopia development and provide important insight into optimization of potential light treatment strategies to prevent or reduce myopia in children.