Myopia is where there is a refractive error that means that patients in theory can see objects up close clearly but not in the distance. The increased length of the eye with the shape of the cornea means images focus in front of the retina rather than on it. Management is in the form of refractive correction (glasses or contact lenses) but with there being a growing concern in the number of children developing myopia, it increases the potential burden of eye health in years to come.
Myopia can increase the risk of several eye conditions such as retinal detachment, glaucoma and cataracts and we are even seeing an increase in some patients developing squints.
Myopia
1. Behavioral Interventions
Encouraging outdoor activities and reducing near work activities, such as prolonged reading or screen time, helps to slow down myopia progression.
2. Orthokeratology (Ortho-K)
This involves wearing specially designed rigid contact lenses overnight to reshape the cornea temporarily. It can provide clear vision during the day without the need for glasses or contact lenses and has been shown to slow myopia progression.
3. Multifocal Contact Lenses
These lenses have different powers in different zones, which can help to reduce eye strain and may slow down myopia progression.
4. Glasses with Peripheral Defocus Lenses
These lenses modify the peripheral optical power to reduce the stimulus for myopia progression.
5. Atropine Eye Drops
Atropine eye drops are sometimes prescribed to temporarily relax the eye's focusing mechanism, which may help slow down myopia progression.These drops are not licensed for use in the UK and are available as off license use only.
Myopia control refers to various methods aimed at slowing down the progression of myopia, particularly in children and adolescents whose eyes are still developing. These methods include:
It's essential to consult an eye care professional to determine the most suitable myopia control method based on individual needs and circumstances. The most important take home message is that children being outdoors daily, from 1 to 2 hours, reading in a well lit environment (preferably natural light) and having regular breaks from close up work has been shown to help slow down myopic progression. After 20 minutes of reading, looking at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds is the rule we tell parents and children to adopt. For further information and assessment, please do contact Mr Jolly.