Meet the virtual parents: genetic nurture and myopia
8 February 2023
Winter 2023
Adrian O’Dowd investigates whether genetic nurture plays a significant role in childhood development of myopia alongside a person’s built-in genetics.
Domains covered
Communication
Clinical practice
The concept of “genetic nurture” describes the genetic effects transmitted indirectly from parents and other relatives to a child, rather than directly through actual genes – such as through influential environments.
For example, parents might create an environment that encourages their child to read and stay indoors, rather than going out to do regular physical exercise – one that is also geared towards myopia.
Within this debate and research, experts have considered what impact genetic nurture may have in refractive error – and not always with the results that might be expected.
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