Optician India

Rising Myopia Rates in Children Demand Urgent Action

The prevalence of myopia (near-sightedness) in children has escalated dramatically in recent years, especially in East Asian countries like China, Singapore, and South Korea, where up to 80-90% of teenagers and young adults are affected. India mirrors this alarming trend, with approximately 7-10% of children aged 5-15 years being myopic. Among adolescents aged 15-19 years, this figure rises to 15-30%, with rates in urban areas soaring to 30-50% due to lifestyle factors such as increased screen time and reduced outdoor activities. Projections suggest that by 2050, nearly half of the global population will be myopic, underscoring the need for effective management strategies. – (Global Prevalence of Myopia and High Myopia and Temporal Trends from 2000 through 2050)

For eye care professionals, integrating pediatric myopia management into their practice is no longer optional but essential. By adopting this approach, practitioners can significantly improve patient outcomes by slowing the progression of myopia, thereby reducing the risk of associated complications like retinal detachment, glaucoma, and cataracts later in life. Additionally, offering specialized myopia management services positions the practice as a leader in modern optometry, attracting more patients seeking advanced and proactive eye care solutions. This not only enhances the practice's reputation but also contributes to its growth and success in an increasingly competitive healthcare environment.

EMBRACING PAEDIATRIC MYOPIA MANAGEMENT: A CRUCIAL STEP FOR EYE CARE PRACTITIONERS

As myopia becomes increasingly prevalent among children, eye care professionals must adopt proactive strategies to manage it. Traditional approaches like prescribing glasses or contact lenses are not enough to address the underlying issues of myopia progression. Instead, incorporating evidence-based strategies such as myopia control spectacle, atropine eye drops, multifocal contact lenses, and orthokeratology (Ortho-K) can slow myopia progression and prevent future complications.

Education is crucial in managing myopia progression effectively. Eye care practitioners should educate parents about the significance of early intervention and the long-term benefits of controlling myopia for their children’s visual health. Establishing a clear protocol for myopia management—one that includes regular follow-ups, patient education, and encouragement of outdoor activities such as play and distance vision exercises- ensures that the treatment plan remains both effective and sustainable. This approach not only helps in slowing myopia progression but also promotes healthier vision habits in children.

Diversifying into pediatric myopia management enhances the quality of eye care and helps differentiate a practice in a competitive market. By focusing on this growing public health concern, practitioners can significantly improve children's eye health and reduce the risk of severe eye conditions such as retinal detachment, myopic maculopathy, posterior subcapsular (PSC) cataract, and glaucoma later in life. This proactive approach not only benefits patients but also strengthens the practice’s reputation as a leader in comprehensive eye care.

UNDERSTANDING PAEDIATRIC MYOPIA: EARLY DETECTION, PREVENTION, AND MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES FOR CLEARER VISION IN CHILDREN

What is Myopia?

Myopia, or near-sightedness, is a common visual impairment in children where distant objects appear blurred while near objects remain clear. This occurs because the eyeball is too long, or the cornea is too curved, causing light to focus before it reaches the retina. The rise in myopia is linked to genetic predisposition, excessive near work (like screen use), and lack of outdoor activity

Early Detection and Prevention

Early detection through regular eye examinations, especially during school years, is crucial for managing myopia effectively. Symptoms like blurred vision, frequent squinting, headaches, and proximity to screens while reading or watching TV should prompt an eye exam. Untreated myopia can lead to academic, sporting, and social challenges, highlighting the importance of early intervention.

Preventative strategies for managing myopia progression include encouraging at least two hours of outdoor playtime daily, limiting screen time, optimizing the school environment, and ensuring proper posture and adequate lighting during near work. Educating families about myopia and its management empowers them to make informed decisions and take proactive steps to protect their child's eye health, ultimately reducing the risk of myopia progression and associated complications.

Treatment Options for Myopia Management

1. Spectacles

• Single-Vision Lenses: Commonly used to correct blurred-distance vision in children.
• Progressive Addition Lenses (PALs) and Prismatic Bifocals are effective treatments for managing myopia, especially in children who engage in extensive near-work activities, such as reading or using digital devices. These lenses provide multiple focal points, reducing eye strain by allowing the eyes to switch seamlessly between near and distant vision. Prismatic bifocals, in particular, help align the eyes properly during close-up tasks, reducing the accommodative stress that can contribute to myopia progression. By supporting better visual comfort and reducing strain, PALs and prismatic bifocals play a crucial role in slowing the progression of myopia in children.

2. Contact Lenses

• Contact Lenses: Suitable for older children and adolescents who can manage contacts, these lenses function similarly to glasses.
• Multifocal Contact Lenses: These lenses adjust the focal distribution on the retina, helping control myopia progression.
• Orthokeratology (Ortho-K) Lenses: Rigid gas-permeable lenses worn overnight to temporarily reshape the cornea, allowing clear vision during the day and slowing myopia progression.

3. Atropine Eye Drops

• Low-dose atropine eye drops (0.01% to 0.05%) have shown promise in reducing myopia progression with minimal side effects.

4. Lifestyle Modifications

• Encouraging outdoor activities, limiting screen time, and ensuring proper posture during near work can help slow myopia progression.

5. Vision Therapy

• Customized vision therapy programs can correct abnormal binocular vision and other visual problems, complementing myopia management strategies.

6. Refractive Surgery (For Adults)

• Procedures like LASIK, PRK, and SMILE are options for teenagers and adults with stable myopia, permanently correcting refractive errors.

7. Combination Therapies

Orthokeratology (Ortho-K) lenses with atropine drops, Defocus Incorporated Multiple Segments (DIMS) lenses with atropine drops, or multifocal lenses, can enhance the control of myopia progression, particularly in moderate to severe cases. These combination therapies work by leveraging the benefits of multiple approaches: Ortho-K reshapes the cornea overnight, atropine drops reduce eye elongation, and specialized lenses create peripheral defocus, all of which collectively help slow down myopia progression more effectively than any single treatment alone. This integrated strategy offers a more comprehensive approach to managing myopia and minimizing future eye health risks.

INNOVATIVE OPTICAL SOLUTIONS FOR MYOPIA: ADVANCED TREATMENTS TO CONTROL AND MANAGE MYOPIA PROGRESSION IN CHILDREN

Myopia Control Spectacle Lenses

Myopia control lenses, such as MiYOSMART and Stellest, are designed to slow down the progression of myopia in children. These lenses utilize advanced optical designs to create a therapeutic effect on the peripheral retina, sending signals to the brain to reduce eye elongation—a key factor in myopia progression. By altering the way light is focused on the retina, these lenses help to control myopia effectively, offering a non-invasive solution for managing this common vision problem in children.

The Technology Behind Myopia Control Lenses

1. Peripheral Defocus Theory

These lenses manipulate light to prevent the peripheral light from focusing behind the retina, which can signal the eye to elongate. By focusing light in front of the peripheral retina, the lenses help control myopia progression.

2. DIMS (Defocus Incorporated Multiple Segments) Technology

This technology employs DIMS (Defocus Incorporated Multiple Segments) technology, which integrates clear and defocus zones into the lens surface. By creating these distinct zones, DIMS lenses manage myopia through the induction of myopic defocus on the peripheral retina. This defocus effect helps slow the progression of myopia by influencing the eye's growth patterns and reducing its elongation, thereby providing an effective strategy for controlling myopia in children.

3. Optical Zone Modulation of Multifocal Lenses

Multifocal lenses use alternating zones of different focal lengths to control light distribution on the retina, slowing the development of myopia.

4. Orthokeratology (Ortho-K) Technology

Ortho-K lenses are designed to reshape the cornea while worn overnight, allowing for clear vision during the day without the need for glasses or contact lenses. This overnight reshaping helps to slow the progression of myopia by temporarily altering the corneal curvature, reducing eye elongation, and thus preventing myopia from worsening. This non-surgical approach offers a practical solution for managing myopia and maintaining visual clarity throughout the day.

5. Wavefront-Guided Technology

This technology ensures uniform light distribution, enhancing vision quality and managing myopia by controlling defocus.

By adopting these advanced strategies and technologies, eye care professionals can make a significant impact on the management and prevention of pediatric myopia. Early intervention, combined with the right treatment options, can ensure better long-term vision outcomes for children.