In-utero epigenetic factors are associated with early-onset myopia in young children.
Wei Jie SeowCheryl S NgoHong PanVeluchamy Amutha BarathiStuart W J TompsonKristina N WhisenhuntEranga VithanaYap-Seng ChongSuh-Hang H JuoPirro HysiTerri L YoungNeerja KarnaniSeang Mei SawPublished in: PloS one (2019)
We identified five CpG methylation sites that demonstrate a statistically significant association with increased risk of developing early-onset myopia. These findings suggest that variability in the neonatal cord epigenome may influence early-onset myopia risk in children. Further studies of the epigenetic influences on myopia risk in larger study populations, and the associations with adulthood myopia risk are warranted.