AMISH EYE STUDY: Baseline Spectral Domain Optical Coherence Tomography Characteristics of Age-Related Macular Degeneration.

Purpose: To describe spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) findings in an Amish cohort to assess SD-OCT markers for early age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

Methods: The authors performed a family-based prospective cohort study of 1,146 elderly Amish subjects (age range 50-99 years) (2,292 eyes) who had a family history of at least 1 individual with AMD. All subjects underwent complete ophthalmic examinations, SD-OCT using both Cirrus and Spectralis (20 × 20° scan area) instruments, fundus autofluorescence, infrared imaging, and color fundus photography.

Genome-wide scan of African-American and white families for linkage to myopia.

Purpose: To identify myopia susceptibility genes influencing common myopia in 94 African-American and 36 White families.

Design: A prospective study of families with myopia consisting of a minimum of two individuals affected with myopia.

Methods: Extended families consisting of at least two siblings affected with myopia were ascertained.

Genome-wide scan of additional Jewish families confirms linkage of a myopia susceptibility locus to chromosome 22q12.

Purpose: A genome-wide scan was previously reported for myopia in Ashkenazi Jews. In order to confirm the previous linkage peaks, a collection of DNA samples from 19 new Ashkenazi Jewish families were tested for linkage in a genome wide scan.

Methods: Families were ascertained from an Orthodox Ashkenazi Jewish community through mailings.

Genome-wide scan for myopia in the Old Order Amish.

Purpose: To identify myopia susceptibility genes influencing common myopia in 34 Old Order Amish families, a genetically well-defined founder population.

Design: A prospective study of families with myopia consisting of a minimum of two individuals affected with myopia.

Methods: Extended families consisting of at least two siblings affected with myopia were ascertained.

Candidate high myopia loci on chromosomes 18p and 12q do not play a major role in susceptibility to common myopia.

Background: To determine whether previously reported loci predisposing to nonsyndromic high myopia show linkage to common myopia in pedigrees from two ethnic groups: Ashkenazi Jewish and Amish. We hypothesized that these high myopia loci might exhibit allelic heterogeneity and be responsible for moderate /mild or common myopia.

Methods: Cycloplegic and manifest refraction were performed on 38 Jewish and 40 Amish families.

Genomewide linkage scan for myopia susceptibility loci among Ashkenazi Jewish families shows evidence of linkage on chromosome 22q12.

Mild/moderate (common) myopia is a very common disorder, with both genetic and environmental influences. The environmental factors are related to near work and can be measured. There are no known genetic loci for common myopia.