The effects of monochromatic illumination on early eye development in rhesus monkeys.

PURPOSE: Influence of longitudinal chromatic aberration (LCA) on emmetropization during early eye development has not been studied in primates. We investigated the effects of quasi-monochromatic lighting on refractive development and eye growth in rhesus monkeys.

METHODS: Infant rhesus monkeys were raised under one of three lighting conditions for 51 weeks: quasi-monochromatic blue light (peak 455 nm), red light (peak 610 nm), and white light (color temperature 5000 K). All animals underwent biometric measurements using cycloplegic streak retinoscope, keratometry, and A-scan ultrasonography for refraction, corneal power, and axial components, respectively, at designated time points.

RESULTS: At the 51st week, the mean difference in refraction of the white light and blue light groups, compared with that of the red light group, reached 1.71 diopters (D) and 1.43 D, respectively (both P < 0.001). Two monkeys in the red light group developed myopia at the 16th week, whereas the other seven remained hyperopic throughout the experiment. No significant difference in mean refraction was observed between the blue light group and white light group.

CONCLUSIONS: Illumination from long-wavelength light during early life could be a risk factor for the development of myopia in a small proportion of rhesus monkeys that are sensitive to L-cone stimulation.