Myopia breakthrough may allow gene repair

A cure to myopia may be possible in the future through the identification of genes associated with the disease.

In a study of over 4,000 twins, researchers from the Department of Twin Research at King's College London have identified what could be the first of many myopia susceptibility genes called RASGRF1. The study was replicated in more than 13,000 other people from the UK, the Netherlands and Australia.

Explaining the implications of the findings, Dr Christopher Hammond, senior author from the department, said: 'It is not quite the end of glasses yet but clearly the hope is that we will be able to block the genetic pathways that cause short-sightedness.'