Severe myopic anisometropia in a Chinese family.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study is to describe a Chinese four-generation family with severe myopic anisometropia and to explore the possible pathogenesis for this disease.


METHODS
Eighteen individuals of a four-generation family participated in the study, including a pair of monozygotic (MZ) twins. A detailed family history and clinical data were recorded. All participants were subjected to ophthalmologic examinations including refractive error, slitlamp, and fundus examination. B-scan and A-scan ultrasonography were additionally ordered for each affected patient for further evaluation. Optical refractive correction was prescribed, and full-time occlusion therapy of 6 days weekly in right eye and 1 day weekly in left eye was prescribed for the MZ twins.


RESULTS
Five individuals were affected with severe myopic anisometropia within this family, including the pair of MZ twins. In all affected individuals, the right eyes were more myopic than the left eyes, and axial length and anterior chamber depth measurements in the more myopic eyes were longer. After 6 months of therapy, the best corrected visual acuity in the amblyopic eye of the MZ twins improved significantly.


CONCLUSIONS
The co-occurrence of severe myopic anisometropia in five individuals of the family supports a genetic basis for the disease. The successful therapeutic effect on anisometropic amblyopia highlights the importance of early detection and timely treatment.
Department of Ophthalmology, The Second Hospital Affiliated to Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.
Lei
L
Feng
T Rowan
TR
Candy
Yabo
Y
Yang
D015858:Anisometropia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000628:therapy; D002648:Child; D002681:China; D004200:Diseases in Twins; D005139:Eyeglasses; D005190:Family; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006801:Humans; D009216:Myopia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000628:therapy; D010375:Pedigree; D012029:Refraction, Ocular; D012683:Sensory Deprivation; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D014430:Twins, Monozygotic