>>14069150This is interesting to me because as the diagrams show, this is clearly a structural phenomenon. The research showing a correlation with being outside and sunlight, and a dopamine response is a roundabout way of describing a physical effect on the structure through chemistry.
But what about the fact that when you are in bright sunlight not only is there a lot more focusing action but also squinting? These muscular contractions might help shape the eyeball and muscle tone is the critical variable.
A long time ago these were a purported treatment for myopia. The idea is, by wearing the glasses the eye is forced to do more work. It is already the case that simple exercises such as the switching between near object and far object continuously does improve muscle control and increases the ability to focus the eye. Forcing you to focus continually through tiny holes instead supposedly works out those muscles, not that it will change the shape of the eye.
The eyeball itself is capable of expanding or contracting, squishing and stretching. So squinting seems like it would be the simplest explanation.
