Linkage analysis of quantitative refraction and refractive errors in the Beaver Dam Eye Study.

PubMed ID: 21571680

Author(s): Klein AP, Duggal P, Lee KE, Cheng CY, Klein R, Bailey-Wilson JE, Klein BE. Linkage analysis of quantitative refraction and refractive errors in the Beaver Dam Eye Study. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2011 Jul 13;52(8):5220-5. doi: 10.1167/iovs.10-7096. PMID 21571680

Journal: Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science, Volume 52, Issue 8, Jul 2011

PURPOSE Refraction, as measured by spherical equivalent, is the need for an external lens to focus images on the retina. While genetic factors play an important role in the development of refractive errors, few susceptibility genes have been identified. However, several regions of linkage have been reported for myopia (2q, 4q, 7q, 12q, 17q, 18p, 22q, and Xq) and for quantitative refraction (1p, 3q, 4q, 7p, 8p, and 11p). To replicate previously identified linkage peaks and to identify novel loci that influence quantitative refraction and refractive errors, linkage analysis of spherical equivalent, myopia, and hyperopia in the Beaver Dam Eye Study was performed.

METHODS Nonparametric, sibling-pair, genome-wide linkage analyses of refraction (spherical equivalent adjusted for age, education, and nuclear sclerosis), myopia and hyperopia in 834 sibling pairs within 486 extended pedigrees were performed.

RESULTS Suggestive evidence of linkage was found for hyperopia on chromosome 3, region q26 (empiric P = 5.34 × 10(-4)), a region that had shown significant genome-wide evidence of linkage to refraction and some evidence of linkage to hyperopia. In addition, the analysis replicated previously reported genome-wide significant linkages to 22q11 of adjusted refraction and myopia (empiric P = 4.43 × 10(-3) and 1.48 × 10(-3), respectively) and to 7p15 of refraction (empiric P = 9.43 × 10(-4)). Evidence was also found of linkage to refraction on 7q36 (empiric P = 2.32 × 10(-3)), a region previously linked to high myopia.

CONCLUSIONS The findings provide further evidence that genes controlling refractive errors are located on 3q26, 7p15, 7p36, and 22q11.