VR study links downward gaze patterns to potential myopia mechanisms
Reading and indoor environments produce significantly more downward gaze and fixation behaviors than outdoor settings, and these patterns may contribute to myopia progression through a potential biomechanical mechanism involving axial elongation, according to a study.
Researchers analyzed 41 healthy adults as they viewed indoor and outdoor scenes and performed reading tasks in VR using a built-in eye-tracking system. Gaze and fixation data were measured across 8 regions of the visual field.
Indoor settings produced a stronger downward gaze than outdoor scenes, and reading showed the most pronounced differences compared with all other scenarios. In the peripheral inferior visual field (Region 8), median gaze point counts were 816 for outdoor viewing, 1123 for indoor viewing, and 1705 during reading. Fixation counts in the same region increased similarly, with medians of 4, 7, and 39, respectively.
The authors report that downward gaze and fixation were more common in reading and indoor environments. Because downward eye movements can create instantaneous axial elongation, the findings point to a possible biomechanical pathway for myopia development involving optic nerve traction and changes in ocular tissues.
Reference
Li Q, Zhou C, Liu T, et al. Eye Movement Variations in Indoor, Outdoor, and Reading Scenarios and Their Implications for Myopia. J Ophthalmol. 2025;2025:9954083. doi: 10.1155/joph/9954083. PMID: 41341169; PMCID: PMC12672079.
