A model for emmetropization. The effect of corrective lenses.

A mechanism called emmetropization appears to control the ocular focus over the years. Emmetropization could regulate the refractive media (dimensions of cornea, lens, and axial length), detecting the focus or refractive error of the eye at rest and initiating changes to reduce the refractive error; this concept suggests that a feedback loop is operational. A feedback mechanism for ocular refraction implies that correcting ametropia with lenses initiates a change in the refractive state of the eye. The long-term effect of corrective lenses on ocular refraction is investigated with a mathematical feedback model that can predict the extent and direction of this change. The results indicate that lenses worsen existing ametropia conditions. However, the use of appropriate lenses in early life can reduce and correct developing ametropia.