Methods for Diagnosing and Treating Eye-Length Related Disorders

• US 20120182520A1
• Filed: 01/13/2012
• Published: 07/19/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/14/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: University of Washington
• Original Assignee: University of Washington
• Inventors: Neitz, Jay, Neitz, Maureen
• Granted Patent: US 8,951,729 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 351/159.29
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/398 Electrooculography [EOG], e.g. detecting nystagmus; Electroretinography [ERG]
• CPC Class Codes: C12Q 1/6883 for diseases caused by alterations of genetic material
• CPC Class Codes: C12Q 2600/118 Prognosis of disease development
• CPC Class Codes: C12Q 2600/156 Polymorphic or mutational markers
• CPC Class Codes: C12Q 2600/172 Haplotypes
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 2202/24 Myopia progression prevention
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 7/02 Lenses; Lens systems ; Methods of designing lenses
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 7/10 Filters, e.g. for facilitating adaptation of the eyes to the dark; Sunglasses

Abstract

The invention provides to methods for diagnosing eye-length related disorders, including myopia. The invention also provides methods for treating and limiting eye-length related disorders, including myopia. In addition, the invention provides certain haplotypes associated with eye-length related disorders, including myopia and Bornholm Eye Disease.

Claims

1. A method for determining the myopic potential of a patient comprising:

a) testing a biological sample obtained from the patient to determine the L;

M opsin gene haplotype of the patient; and

b) correlating the haplotype with a predicted spherical equivalent refraction.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the L:

M opsin gene haplotype is one of haplotypes 1 to 13 as set forth in Table 1.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

a. determining the L;

M cone ratio in an eye of the patient; and

b. correlating the L;

M opsin gene haplotype and the L;

M cone ratio with a predicted spherical equivalent refraction.

35. The method of claim 1, 4, or 5, wherein the L:

M opsin gene haplotype of the patient is determined using mass spectrometry.

4. A method for diagnosing susceptibility of a patient to an eye-length related disorder, the method comprising testing a biological sample obtained from a patient for a particular combination of amino acids in the patient'"'"'s L opsin gene or M opsin gene, wherein the patient is susceptible to an eye-length related disorder if one of the amino acid combinations shown in Table 1 is present.

5. A method for diagnosing susceptibility of a patient to an eye-length related disorder, the method comprising:

a. testing a biological sample obtained from a patient to determine the L;

M opsin gene haplotype of the patient; and

b. correlating the haplotype with a predicted spherical equivalent refraction;

wherein the patient is susceptible to an eye-length related disorder if the predicted spherical equivalent refraction is a negative diopter.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the L:

M opsin gene haplotype is one of haplotypes 1 to 13 as set forth in Table 1.

7. The method of claim 5, further comprising the steps of:

a. determining the L;

M cone ratio in an eye of the patient; and

b. correlating the L;

M opsin gene haplotype and the L;

M cone ratio with a predicted spherical equivalent refraction.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein the eye-length related disorder is myopia.

9. A method of treating an eye-length related disorder comprising:

a. testing a biological sample obtained from a patient to determine the L;

M opsin gene haplotype of the patient;

b. determining the L;

M cone ratio in an eye of the patient;

c. correlating the haplotype and the L;

M cone ratio with a predicted spherical equivalent refraction;

d. providing the patient with a therapeutic device comprising a wavelength-dependent filter if the patient'"'"'s predicted spherical equivalent refraction is a negative diopter.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the L:

M opsin gene haplotype is one of haplotypes 1 to 13 as set forth in Table 1.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the wavelength-dependent filter blocks red light.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the wavelength-dependent filter blocks green light.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein the wavelengths filtered by the wavelength-dependent filter are selected based on the L:

M opsin gene haplotype and the L;

M cone ratio of the patient.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein the therapeutic device is a pair of spectacles comprising blur-inducing lenses.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the blur-inducing lenses induce blurring by one or more of:

small bumps or depressions in one or both surfaces of the lenses;

inclusions within the lenses of a material different from the lens material;

incorporation of higher-level aberrations in the lenses; and

coatings or films applied to one or both surfaces of the lenses that produce blur by diffraction scatter or diffusion.

16. The method of claim 9, wherein the therapeutic device comprises blur-inducing contact lenses.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the blur-inducing contact lenses induce blurring by one or more of:

inclusions within the lenses of a material different from the lens material;

incorporation of higher-level aberrations in the lenses; and

coatings or films applied to one or both surfaces of the lenses that produce blur by diffraction scatter or diffusion.

18. A microarray comprising a set of allele specific oligonucleotides capable of identifying at least one of haplotypes 1 to 13 as set forth in Table 1.

19. A kit, comprising:

a. at least one pair of oligonucleotides that can identify at least one of haplotypes 1 to 13 as set forth in Table 1; and

b. instructions for use.

20. A kit comprising an assay for detecting at least one of haplotypes 1 to 13 as set forth in Table 1.

21. A mouse model of an eye-length related disorder, wherein the mouse model comprises variant red photopigment proteins associated with myopia.

22. The mouse model of claim 21, further comprising green photopigment proteins.

23. The mouse model of claim 22, wherein the green photopigment proteins are variant L opsin photopigment proteins associated with myopia.

24. A method for limiting introduction of refractive error in a subject'"'"'s eye caused by exposure to display screens, comprising the subject wearing a therapeutic optical device that comprises a wavelength-dependent filter capable of preferentially blocking red light emanating from the display screen prior to entry into the subject'"'"'s eye, thereby limiting introduction of refractive error in the subject'"'"'s eye.

25. A method for limiting development of an eye-length related disorder in a subject, comprising the subject wearing a therapeutic optical device that comprises a wavelength-dependent filter capable of preferentially blocking red light emanating from a display screen prior to entry into the subject'"'"'s eye, thereby limiting development of an eye-length related disorder in the subject.

26. The method of claim 25 wherein the eye-length related disorder is myopia.

27. The method of claim 25, wherein the therapeutic optical device further comprises blur-inducing lenses.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the blur-inducing lens comprises a holographic diffuser applied to the lens surface.

29. The method of claim 25, wherein the therapeutic optical device comprises glasses.

30. The method of claim 25, wherein the therapeutic optical device comprises contact lenses.

31. The method of claim 25, wherein the display screen is selected from the group consisting of a computer monitor, a tablet monitor, a television screen, a handheld device screen, a video game screen, a head-mounted display screen, and a movie theater screen.

32. The method of claim 25, wherein the subject is 18 years of age or younger.

33. The method of claim 25, wherein the subject is susceptible to an eye-length related disorder.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein the subject is susceptible to an eye-length related disorder if the subject has an L:

M opsin gene haplotype as set forth in Table 1.