Peripheral vision can influence eye growth and refractive development in infant monkeys.

Peripheral vision can influence eye growth and refractive development in infant monkeys.
Smith EL 3rd, Kee CS, Ramamirtham R, Qiao-Grider Y, Hung LF.
Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2005 Nov;46(11):3965-72.
College of Optometry, University of Houston, TX 


This study investigated the role of peripheral vision in the development of induced myopia in monkeys.  The monkeys in the experiment had their peripheral vision obstructed and were allowed to have clear central vision, and they developed myopia under these conditions.  Once the obstruction was removed (helmets with spectacles) the monkeys recovered from myopia.  


Refractive error at the periphery varies from vision at the center.  People with myopia tend to be hyperopic (blurred vision at near distances) in the periphery and myopic (blurred vision at far distances) in the center.  So an optical correction that is best for the center may be actually detrimental for the periphery.   This is the idea behind the MyoVision by Zeiss lenses that are available currently in Asia.  The center corrects for myopia and the periphery has a lower prescription, like a concentric bifocal.


From the text:
"On the one hand, the peripheral retina can contribute to emmetropizing responses and to ametropias produced by an abnormal visual experience. On the other hand, unrestricted central vision is not sufficient to ensure normal refractive development, and the fovea is not essential for emmetropizing responses."

Link to article:
http://www.iovs.org/content/46/11/3965.full