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The Ostrin Lab

Current Research

Environmental and Behavioral Factors in Myopia Development

Eye growth and myopia development are regulated by a complex interaction between genetic, environmental, and behavioral factors. We are interested to know how environmental factors, such as light exposure, behavioral factors, such as near work and time spent outdoors, and optical factors, such as defocus, contribute to myopia.  Our studies utilize objective, wearable sensors to quantify time outdoors, light exposure, physical activity, sleep, and near work behavior across various seasons and as children's eyes grow to investigate associations. Additionally, we developed a custom questionnaire to assess electronic device use. These findings will help to elucidate critical roles of the environment and behavior on eye growth regulation in children. In the long term, these studies will lead to targeted treatment options and modifiable behaviors to prevent myopia, slow progression, and decrease socioeconomic burden and ocular pathology.

Influence of Blue Light on Circadian Rhythm and Refractive Error

The impact of blue light on the eyes is gaining increasing interest with the widespread use computers and hand held devices, which contain a high proportion of short wavelength light emission. Blue light has been linked to eye strain, ocular surface disorders, and sleep dysfunction, and speculation exists whether blue light exposure contributes to retinal pathology. Increasing evidence shows that exposure to outdoor light is protective for nearsightedness, which may be due to the high proportion of blue light in sunlight. However, findings related to blue light and myopia in animal studies have been conflicting. My research focuses on the effects blue light on sleep and refraction, and how these processes might be linked to the intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cells (ipRGCs). The ipRGCs are a recently characterized inner retinal photoreceptor involved in light-mediated circadian entrainment. The ipRGCs are most sensitive to blue light and project from the retinohypothalamic tract to the suprachiasmatic nucleus, and, ultimately, to the pineal gland, where systemic release of melatonin, the sleep hormone, is regulated. Our current projects focus on these effects of blue light on ocular and systemic processes.

Structural Changes in Myopic Eyes

The retina undergoes significant developmental changes from birth into adulthood. However, there is limited data examining cone photoreceptor density, foveal geometry, and optic nerve head parameters in children during normal eye growth and during myopia progression. Evaluating retinal structure in children with respect to age and refractive status will provide insights into the mechanisms of ocular growth and myopia and associated structural remodeling that renders the myopic eye more susceptible to pathologies. In collaborations with the Porter lab at UH, we use high resolution optical coherence tomography and adaptive optics scanning laser ophthalmoscopy imaging to assess ocular structure in children.

Publications

  • Ostrin LA, Jnawali A, Carkeet A, Patel NB. Twenty-four hour ocular and systemic diurnal rhythms in children. Ophthal Physiol Optics. 2019 Jul 22. [Epub ahead of print]
  • Burfield HJ, Carkeet A, Ostrin LA. Ocular and Systemic Diurnal Rhythms in Emmetropic and Myopic Adults. IOVS. 2019 May 1;60(6):2237-2247
  • Williams R, Bakshi S, Ostrin EJ, Ostrin LA. Continuous Objective Assessment of Near Work. Sci Rep. 2019 May 6;9(1):6901
  • Troilo D, Smith EL III, Ashby R, Tkatchenko A, Ostrin LA, Gawne TJ, Pardue MT, Summers JA, Kee C, Schroedl F, Wahl S, Jones L. IMI - Experimental Models of Emmetropization and Myopia. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2019 Feb 28;60(3):M31-M88
  • Ostrin LA, Strang CE, Chang K, Jnawali A, Hung LF, Arumugam B, Frishman LJ, Smith EL III, Gamlin P. Immunotoxin-Induced Ablation of the Intrinsically Photosensitive Retinal Ganglion Cells in Rhesus Monkeys. Frontiers Neurology Neuro-ophthalmol. 2018 Nov 27. doi.org/10.3389/fneur.2018.01000
  • Burfield HJ, Patel NB, Ostrin LA. Ocular Biometric Diurnal Rhythms in Emmetropic and Myopic Adults. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2018;59(12):5176-5187.
  • Ostrin LA. The ipRGC-Driven Pupil Response with Light Exposure and Refractive Error in Children. Ophthal Phys Optics. 2018 Sep 26. doi: 10.1111/opo.12583.
  • Ostrin LA. Ocular and Systemic Melatonin and the Influence of Light Exposure. Clin Exp Optom. 2018 epub doi: 10.1111/cxo.12824.
  • Hung LF, Arumugam B, Shi Z, Ostrin LA, Smith EL III. Narrow-band, Long-Wavelength Lighting Promotes Hyperopia and Retards Vision-Induced Myopia in Infant Monkeys. Exp Eye Res. 2018 Jul 4;176:147-160.
  • Beach KM, Hung LF, Arumugam B, Smith EL III, Ostrin LA. Adenosine Receptor Distribution in Rhesus Monkey Ocular Tissue. Exp Eye Res 2018 May;174:40-50.
  • Chakraborty R, Ostrin LA, Nickla DL, Iuvone PM, Pardue MT, Stone RA. Circadian Rhythms, Refractive Development, and Myopia. Ophthal Phys Optics. 2018 May;38(3):217-245.
  • Jnawali A, Beach K, Ostrin LA. In Vivo Imaging of the Retina, Choroid and Optic Nerve Head in Guinea Pigs. Current Eye Res 2018 Apr:1-13.
  • Ostrin LA, Sajjadi A. Objectively Measured Light Exposure and Refractive Error in Children. Opt Vis Sci, 2018 Apr;95(4):332-342.
  • Abbott KS, Queener HM, Ostrin LA. The ipRGC Pupil Response with Light Exposure, Refractive Error and Sleep. Opt Vis Sci, 2018 Apr;95(4):323-331.
  • Hung LF, Arumugam B, Ostrin LA, Patel NB, Trier K, Jong M, Smith III EL. The adenosine receptor antagonist, 7-methylxanthine, alters emmetropizing responses in infant macaques. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci, 2018;59(1):472-486.
  • Ostrin LA, Abbott KS, Queener HM. Attenuation of Short Wavelength Light Alters Sleep and ipRGC Pupil Response. Ophthal Phys Optics. 2017;37(4):440-450.
  • Ostrin LA. Objectively Measured Light Exposure in Emmetropic and Myopic Adults. Optom Vis Sci, 2017;94(2):229-238.
  • Ostrin LA, Choh V, Wildsoet CF. The Pattern ERG in Chicks – Stimulus Dependence and Retinal Origin. Vis Research, 2016;128:45-52.
  • Ostrin LA, Wildsoet CF. Optic nerve head and intraocular pressure in the guinea pig eye. Exp Eye Res. 2016;146:7-16.
  • Ostrin LA, Yuzuriha J, Wildsoet CF. Refractive Error and Ocular Parameters – Comparison of Two SD-OCT Systems. Opt Vis Sci, 2015;92(4):437-446.
  • Bonser LR, Schroeder BW, Ostrin LA, Baumlin N, Olson JL, Salathe M, Erle DJ. The ER resident protein AGR3 is required for regulation of ciliary beat frequency in the airway. Am J Respir Cell Mol Biol. 2015;53(4):536-543.
  • Ostrin LA, Garcia MB, Wildsoet CF. Pharmacologically Stimulated Pupil and Accommodative Changes in Guinea Pig. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci, 2014;55(8):5456-65.
  • Ostrin LA, Liu Y, Choh V, Wildsoet CF. The role of the iris in chick accommodation. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci, 2011;52(7):4710-4706.
  • Ostrin LA, Glasser A. Autonomic Drugs and the Accommodative System in Rhesus Monkeys. Exp Eye Research. 2010;90(1):104-112.
  • Win-Hall DM, Ostrin LA, Kasthurirangan S, Glasser A. Objective Accommodation Measurement with the Grand Seiko and Hartinger. Opt Vis Sci, 2007;84(9):879-887.
  • Ostrin LA, Glasser A. Edinger-Westphal and Pharmacologically Stimulated Accommodative Refractive Changes and Lens and Ciliary Process Movements in Rhesus Monkeys. Exp Eye Research, 2007;84(2):302-313.
  • Ostrin LA, Glasser A. Effects of Pharmacologically Manipulated Amplitude and Starting Point on Edinger-Westphal Stimulated Accommodative Dynamics in Rhesus Monkeys. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci, 2007;48(1):313-320.
  • Ostrin LA, Kasthurirangan S, Win-Hall D, Glasser A. Simultaneous Measurements of Refraction and A-Scan Biometry During Accommodation in Humans, Opt Vis Sci, 2006;83(9):657-665.
  • Glasser A, Wendt M, Ostrin L. Accommodative changes in lens diameter in rhesus monkeys. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci, 2006 Jan;47(1):278-86.
  • Ostrin LA, Glasser A. Comparisons Between Pharmacologically and Edinger-Westphal Stimulated Accommodation in Rhesus Monkeys, Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci, 2005;46(2):609-617.
  • Ostrin LA, Frishman L, Glasser A. Effects of pirenzepine on pupil size and accommodation in rhesus monkeys, Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 2004 45(10):3620-3628.
  • Ostrin LA, Kasthurirangan S, Glasser A. Evaluation of a satisfied scleral expansion band patient, J Cat Refract Surg, 2004 Jul;30(7):1445-53.
  • Ostrin LA, Glasser A. Measurement of accommodative amplitude in a pre-presbyopic and presbyopic population, J Cat Refract Surg, 2004 Jul;30(7):1435-44.
  • Ostrin LA, Glasser A. The effects of phenylephrine on pupil diameter and accommodation in rhesus monkeys. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 2004;45:215-221.