Optic nerve crush modulates refractive development of the C57BL/6 mouse by changing multiple ocular dimensions

Optic nerve crush (ONC) at postnatal day 18 caused significant myopic (<-3 D, 54.5%) or hyperopic (>+3 D, 18.2%) shifts in refractive error in 72.7% of C57BL/6 mice.

• ONC modified normal refractive development in mice raised in a typical visual environment.
• Sham surgery resulted in a steeper cornea and a modest myopic refractive shift without significant changes in ocular axis length.
• ONC led to corneal flattening and adjustments in refractive set-point due to changes in ocular axial length.
• Retinal levels of dopamine and DOPAC increased following ONC, although the density of dopaminergic amacrine cells remained unchanged.
• Higher visual centers may play a role in the regulation of ocular growth and refractive development.

AI simplified