title: Correlation between light levels and the development of deprivation myopia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In chicks, daily exposure to bright light (15,000 lux) retards the development of form-deprivation myopia (FDM) by roughly 60%. This study investigated whether higher light intensities increase the amount of protection against FDM, and whether protection and light intensity are correlated. Furthermore, we examined if exposure to bright light can prevent the progression of FDM or whether it affects only the onset of experimental myopia.
  
  
  METHODS
  Experiment 1: Chicks wore translucent diffusers monocularly for a period of 7 days, with exposure to one of five light intensities (500, 10,000, 20,000, 30,000, and 40,000 lux, n = 12 per group). Experiment 2: Chickens wore translucent diffusers monocularly for 11 days and were split into three groups: (1) chicks reared under 500 lux, (2) chicks reared under 40,000 lux, and (3) chicks reared under 500 lux for the first 4 days and 40,000 lux for the remaining 7 days.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A significant correlation was observed between log light intensity and the development of FDM, with a lesser myopic refraction (F (28, 330) = 60.86, P < 0.0001) and shorter axial length (F (4, 20) = 8.87, P < 0.0001) seen with increasing light intensities. The progression of FDM was halted in chicks that were switched from 500 to 40,000 lux.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The level of protection from the development of FDM increases with increasing light intensity. Daily exposure to 40,000 lux almost completely prevents the onset of FDM and, once myopia is established, halts further progression.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Research in Therapeutic Solutions, Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Education, Science, Technology and Mathematics, University of Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia.
authors.forename: Cindy
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Karouta
authors.affiliation: Centre for Research in Therapeutic Solutions, Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Education, Science, Technology and Mathematics, University of Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia Research School of Biology, Australian National University, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia.
authors.forename: Regan Scott
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Ashby
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D002645:Chickens; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D018450:Disease Progression; D005123:Eye / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000528:radiation effects; D008027:Light / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D009216:Myopia / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D012029:Refraction, Ocular / Q000528:radiation effects*; D012683:Sensory Deprivation
keywords: eye growth; light intensity; myopia; outdoor activity