Neyha Pradeepkumar

Understanding the Etiology of Astigmatism: a Literature Review

Started Apr. 18, 2023

Abstract or project description

Astigmatism is caused by the irregular curvature of the cornea of the eye, affecting how light is refracted. Though astigmatism has been researched and its effects are understood well, the etiology is not fully characterized and there are few effective treatment options. This review will characterize the current literature on the etiology and treatments of astigmatism and identify gaps for future research. There are both genetic and environmental components that contribute to the development of astigmatism. In our review, we found several genes with evidence of an association to the development of astigmatism, including PDGFRA, FRAP1, SHH, and VAX-2. Additionally, we identified a few genes with mixed evidence on their connection to the development of astigmatism.We also identified evidence indicating that environmental factors, such as birth during periods of increased sunlight exposure and specific age-related variables, significantly influence the outcomes. In our review, we identified certain gaps in astigmatism etiology research. These gaps can include the lack of clinical trials, limited additional research on these factors. The addition of more GWAS studies that are wide in range can allow us to pinpoint a strong, evidence backed cause of astigmatism. In this review, we summarized the current literature on the genetic, environmental, and age related factors of astigmatism, as well as identifying several gaps for figure research.