EGR1 and myopia: Since the induction of myopia is associated with scleral thinning through reduced accumulation of collagen and increased degradation of scleral tissue [25-27], the reduction of Egr-1-stimulated collagen expression and the reduced inhibition of degrading enzymes (such as the matrix-metalloproteinases that are repressed by TIMPs) that could take place in animals without functional Egr-1 protein, could explain the myopic phenotype of these mice.