Emmetropization in the primate eye. 1990

G W van Alphen
The Netherlands Ophthalmic Research Institute, Amsterdam, Zuidoost.

A theory to explain the mechanism of emmetropization of the human eye is reviewed and updated. The theory is probably also valid for the primate eye. It is proposed that the ciliary muscle-choroid layer behaves like a solid sheet of smooth muscle, so that it is able to resist part of the intraocular pressure and to regulate scleral stretch in the growing eye. It is suggested that the autonomic nervous system and stress play a role in the development of ametropia and that interference with the cortical-subcortical control of the ciliary muscle may prevent emmetropization.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008954 Models, Biological Theoretical representations that simulate the behavior or activity of biological processes or diseases. For disease models in living animals, DISEASE MODELS, ANIMAL is available. Biological models include the use of mathematical equations, computers, and other electronic equipment. Biological Model,Biological Models,Model, Biological,Models, Biologic,Biologic Model,Biologic Models,Model, Biologic
D009130 Muscle, Smooth Unstriated and unstriped muscle, one of the muscles of the internal organs, blood vessels, hair follicles, etc. Contractile elements are elongated, usually spindle-shaped cells with centrally located nuclei. Smooth muscle fibers are bound together into sheets or bundles by reticular fibers and frequently elastic nets are also abundant. (From Stedman, 25th ed) Muscle, Involuntary,Smooth Muscle,Involuntary Muscle,Involuntary Muscles,Muscles, Involuntary,Muscles, Smooth,Smooth Muscles
D012030 Refractive Errors Deviations from the average or standard indices of refraction of the eye through its dioptric or refractive apparatus. Ametropia,Refractive Disorders,Ametropias,Disorder, Refractive,Disorders, Refractive,Error, Refractive,Errors, Refractive,Refractive Disorder,Refractive Error
D002924 Ciliary Body A ring of tissue extending from the scleral spur to the ora serrata of the RETINA. It consists of the uveal portion and the epithelial portion. The ciliary muscle is in the uveal portion and the ciliary processes are in the epithelial portion. Corpus Ciliare,Corpus Ciliaris,Bodies, Ciliary,Body, Ciliary,Ciliare, Corpus,Ciliares, Corpus,Ciliari, Corpus,Ciliaris, Corpus,Ciliary Bodies,Corpus Ciliares,Corpus Ciliari
D004548 Elasticity Resistance and recovery from distortion of shape.
D005123 Eye The organ of sight constituting a pair of globular organs made up of a three-layered roughly spherical structure specialized for receiving and responding to light. Eyes
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000818 Animals Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA. Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D000882 Haplorhini A suborder of PRIMATES consisting of six families: CEBIDAE (some New World monkeys), ATELIDAE (some New World monkeys), CERCOPITHECIDAE (Old World monkeys), HYLOBATIDAE (gibbons and siamangs), CALLITRICHINAE (marmosets and tamarins), and HOMINIDAE (humans and great apes). Anthropoidea,Monkeys,Anthropoids,Monkey
D012590 Sclera The white, opaque, fibrous, outer tunic of the eyeball, covering it entirely excepting the segment covered anteriorly by the cornea. It is essentially avascular but contains apertures for vessels, lymphatics, and nerves. It receives the tendons of insertion of the extraocular muscles and at the corneoscleral junction contains the CANAL OF SCHLEMM. (From Cline et al., Dictionary of Visual Science, 4th ed) Scleral Spur,Scleral Spurs,Scleras

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