The Temporal Characteristics of Eye Growth Control Mechanisms Differ Following Optic Nerve Section

The visual control of eye growth and refractive development occurs on at least two levels, a peripheral mechanism local to the eye and retina, and a higher level mechanism possibly involving brain-mediated mechanisms. The loss of the higher level mechanism following optic nerve section results in (1) more rapid development of form deprivation myopia and (2) a reduction in the responsiveness of choroidal and axial growth responses to visual signals. These results suggest that the peripheral mechanism, while capable of responding to coarse visual stimuli, is normally modulated by the higher level mechanism.