Myopia Management

The digital environment has undergone significant transformation since the COVID-19 pandemic. The necessity to adapt to lockdowns prompted individuals to adopt new modes of communication and information sharing. These changes led to reduced outdoor activities and an increase in near-work tasks, stemming from greater reliance on digital devices for professional responsibilities and remote learning. The resourcefulness demonstrated during lockdowns continues to influence daily routines post-pandemic however, this shift in lifestyle has contributed to a notable rise in myopia (nearsightedness or short sightedness). According to the World Health Organization, if current trends persist, myopia may affect 50% of the global population by 2050. 

Fortunately, eye care has also been rapidly evolving in the specialty of myopia management over the past several decades. Myopia management (also known as myopia control) is a strategy used in eye care to help slow the progression of nearsightedness in children and teenagers during development. Four methods used to manage the progression of myopia include peripheral defocus spectacles, peripheral defocus soft contact lenses, orthokeratology contact lenses, and low dose atropine.

Many traditional vision aids for myopia such as glasses and contacts, help keep our central vision in focus but fail to keep our peripheral vision in focus. This is known as peripheral defocus and is understood to be one of the driving forces in the rapid progression of myopia. To help reduce peripheral defocus and slow the progression of myopia, lens companies in eye care have created several patented technologies for both glasses and contacts. 

Another ingenuity in myopia management that utilizes the peripheral defocus concept is orthokeratology contacts. Orthokeratology is a specialty contact lens that can mold and flatten the clear dome shaped structure of your eye known as the cornea, similar to laser eye surgery but completely reversible and with minimal side effects. Our analogy for orthokeratology is based on the concept of braces for teeth, allowing the eye to grow normally which minimizes a child’s level of myopia and there has been overwhelming evidence in the literature to support it.

The last method commonly used in myopia management is not a vision aid, but rather a pharmaceutical eye drop. Studies have shown the effectiveness of low dose atropine as a daily drop in slowing down the progression of myopia. However, some children may not tolerate it well due to side effects such as blurry vision at near and light sensitivity. 

When considering myopia management for your child, it is essential to understand that while myopia progression cannot be completely controlled, it can be slowed while also minimizing certain eye diseases related to higher amounts of myopia later in life. This is why early identification of risk factors for myopia and the use of appropriate myopia management strategies are critical for tracking your child’s visual development. Additionally, it is recommended that all parents ensure their children receive annual eye exams by an optometrist to screen for subtle changes in vision and eye structure rather than waiting for vision issues to manifest.