Gene mutation found causing farsightedness

BALTIMORE, Aug 23, 2005 (United Press International via COMTEX) -- Johns Hopkins University researchers say they have discovered what appears to be the first human gene mutation that causes extreme farsightedness.

The Wilmer Eye Institute researchers, working with an Amish-Mennonite family tree, report nanophthalmos, Greek for "dwarf eye," is a rare, potentially blinding disorder caused by an alteration in a gene called MFRP that helps control eye growth and regulates the organ's shape and focus.

"The MFRP protein is only made in a tiny portion of the human eye, and it can alter eye refraction, or focus," said Olof Sundin, assistant professor of ophthalmology at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. "We hope this protein holds the key to unlocking not only nanophthalmos, but other forms of farsightedness and nearsightedness as well."

The study is described in the July 5 issue of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.