Link established between myopia and sleep hormone

A link between myopia and melatonin levels which control the natural body clock has been established for the first time by a team of scientists from Ulster University.

A group of young adults were assessed over a period of 18 months, during which their melatonin levels were measured first thing in the morning after fasting. It was found that those people who were short-sighted had over three times more melatonin in their system than those who were not.

Researchers, led by professor Kathryn Saunders, said their objective was to determine whether disrupted sleep patterns in childhood were related to short-sightedness and whether behavioural interventions and sleep pattern management could serve as a low-cost strategy to managing the condition.