We are facing a myopia epidemic, so it is vital to regularly test your child’s vision!
“Nearly Half of the Global Population May Be Myopic by 2050*”
*The Brien Holden Institute, Published in American Academy of Ophthalmology 2015
Assess Your Child’s Risk
of Developing Myopia
(Short-sightedness)
We are facing a myopia epidemic, so it is vital to regularly test your child’s vision!
“Nearly Half of the Global Population May Be Myopic by 2050*”
*The Brien Holden Institute, Published in American Academy of Ophthalmology 2015
Myopia is anticipated to become a leading cause of permanent blindness worldwide.
“Nearly Half of the Global Population May Be Myopic by 2050*”
*The Brien Holden Institute, Published in American Academy of Ophthalmology 2015
Myopia is anticipated to become a leading cause of permanent blindness worldwide.
The myopic progression is of great concern for the World Health Organisation (WHO), eye care and general health care professionals, as well as parents. Mounting scientific research indicates that myopia leads to an increased risk of several eye pathologies that may lead to visual impairment or blindness. Researchers and clinicians worldwide are directing their efforts into better understanding the cause and finding the most effective methods to slow down the myopic progression.
Myopia is anticipated to become a leading cause of permanent blindness worldwide.
The myopic progression is of great concern for the World Health Organisation (WHO), eye care and general health care professionals, as well as parents. Mounting scientific research indicates that myopia leads to an increased risk of several eye pathologies that may lead to visual impairment or blindness. Researchers and clinicians worldwide are directing their efforts into better understanding the cause and finding the most effective methods to slow down the myopic progression.
FACTS ABOUT MYOPIA IN CHILDREN AND YOUNG ADULTS
- Child myopia is reaching epidemic proportions.
- 60 years ago, 10-20% of the Chinese population was short-sighted. Today, up to 90% of teenagers and young adults are. In Seoul, 96.5% of 19-year-old men are short-sighted.
- In USA and Europe, approx. half of young adults are myopic, double the prevalence of half a century ago.
- Worldwide, it is estimated that 2.5 billion people (roughly 1/3 of the world population) are myopic.
Although there is no cure yet, a number of methods have proven successful at slowing or stopping the rate of progression.
IMPORTANCE OF REGULAR EYE TESTS
It is important that children have regular eye examinations, which can identify early signs of visual or ocular irregularities. Early, customised intervention plans can reduce progression and the associated risks from myopia.
Eye tests are even more critical if one or both parents are short-sighted.
Can the progression of myopia be slowed down?
Clinicians have proven that, using a personalised eye care plan the progression can be significantly slowed down or even stopped.
‘myopia.care™’ is a screening tool designed to support the early detection and correction of myopia reducing the risk of progression and associated eye pathologies. It calculates a probability of your child developing myopia considering factors clinically proven to be associated with it.
‘myopia.care™’ is an innovative platform which makes it easier to predict myopia and connect you with an expert. Our goal is to support parents in slowing and stopping the development of short-sightedness in their children.
How can ‘myopia.care™’ help?
Using a simple questionnaire, it can estimate the level of risk and, if needed, provide you with contact details of a local expert who can help. This allows early intervention, increasing the probability of a successful outcome.
‘myopia.care™’ is a living application, updated regularly on the basis of the latest research.
‘myopia.care™’ PREDICTIVE INDEX
On completion of the questionnaire, a code will be sent to you. Please take this to your chosen eye care practitioner, listed on our website. It enables him to call up the results to use as a basis for commencing a more specialised examination. The results are anonymous. The child can only be identified by the code, and not by name.
FIND THE RIGHT PROFESSIONAL (Eye Care Practitioner)
We strongly recommend finding a professional who is actively engaged in myopia control, and is up to date with the appropriate technology and knowledge.
The eye care practitioners listed on our platform are actively involved in the development of the field and must qualify through training to be listed.
CURRENT APPROACHES
A number of proven methods can be employed on their own or in combination to slow or reduce myopic progression:
- Have your child spend more time outdoors. The latest evidence indicates that higher level of natural light are beneficial.
- Elements of diet (especially foods rich in vitamin D and lutein) can have a beneficial effect
- Very low-concentration eye drops to relax the focusing muscles of the eye
- Multifocal spectacles or contact lenses can a similar effect to the drops
- Contact lenses which reshape the front of the eye overnight (Ortho-K)
TAKE ACTION NOW…
…to protect your child’s future vision and ocular health!
Answer the questionnaire now!
SPEND TIME OUTDOORS
This generation of children are spending less time outdoors.
There is strong evidence that spending more time outside in natural daylight will delay the onset of myopia and reduce the final level of myopia. Studies have also shown that myopic children become more myopic in the winter months than they do in the summer. Shorter periods of natural daylight being cited as the reason. Different studies advocate spending different lengths of time outdoors. Some say as little as 40 minutes a day outside can be of benefit whilst others believe 2 hours a day to be ideal.
We will report on this as the wealth of knowledge grows and evidence supports lifestyle and a potential nutritional impact on myopia. Emerging research suggests Vitamin D and Lutein might offer a protective mechanism in myopia.
Outdoor activity and myopia among primary students in rural and urban regions of Beijing
Effect of outdoor activity on myopia onset and progression in school-aged children/
Time outdoors and physical activity as predictors of incident myopia in childhood: a prospective cohort study.
Protective effects of high ambient lighting on the development of form-deprivation myopia in rhesus monkeys.
SPEND TIME OUTDOORS
This generation of children are spending less time outdoors. There is strong evidence that spending more time outside in natural daylight will delay the onset of myopia and reduce the final level of myopia. Studies have also shown that myopic children become more myopic in the winter months than they do in the summer. Shorter periods of natural daylight being cited as the reason. Different studies advocate spending different lengths of time outdoors. Some say as little as 40 minutes a day outside can be of benefit whilst others believe 2 hours a day to be ideal. We will report on this as the wealth of knowledge grows and evidence supports lifestyle and a potential nutritional impact on myopia. Emerging reseach suggests Vitamin D and Lutein might offer a protective mechanism in myopia.
Effect of outdoor activity on myopia onset and progression in school-aged children
Outdoor activity and myopia among primary students in rural and urban regions of Beijing
Time outdoors and physical activity as predictors of incident myopia in childhood: a prospective cohort study.
Protective effects of high ambient lighting on the development of form-deprivation myopia in rhesus monkeys.
ORTHO-K (ORTHOKERATOLOGY, OPTICAL RETAINERS, CRT – CORNEAL RESHAPING THERAPY)
Ortho-K contact lenses are rigid contact lenses that are worn overnight and may be put on the eye and removed in the morning by parents or the child. During wear, the lenses re-shape the eye surface so that the child can see clearly without spectacles during the following day. Sometimes a top-up pair of glasses may be necessary if, for example, there is a significant amount of astigmatism in the prescription. The resulting corneal shape has been shown to slow the progression of myopia significantly as well as giving spectacle-free daytime vision. Since this method requires special skills and advanced corneal mapping (topography), the Ortho-K contact lenses not all Eye Care Practitioners are able to offer this.
More Information about Orthokeratology
Source:
Efficacy and Acceptability of Orthokeratology for Slowing Myopic Progression in Children
Myopia control with orthokeratology contact lenses in Spain: a comparison of vision-related quality-of-life measures between orthokeratology contact lenses and single-vision spectacles.
SOFT PROGRESSIVE LENSES
There are a number of specialist soft lenses (including disposable lenses) which have an altered peripheral focus which has been shown to reduce the one mechanism that drives myopic progression. These are as comfortable to wear as normal soft lenses and are well tolerated by children as young as 6 years of age. A common myth is that children cannot wear lenses. The vast majority of children cope very well with placing the lens on the eye and removing themselves. It is imperative that these are fitted by appropriate professionals and that regular appointments be attended and hygiene routines are strictly adhered to.
A new 1 Day contact lens special designed for Myopia Control is now available in some countries around the world. The MiSight 1 Day contact lens from CooperVision showed good results in a Three-Year Study.
Source:
Peripheral defocus with spherical and multifocal soft contact lenses
The effect of multifocal soft contact lenses on peripheral refraction.
Multifocal contact lens myopia control.
Efficacy Comparison of 16 Interventions for Myopia Control in Children: A Network Meta-analysis.
Vision Performance With a Contact Lens Designed to Slow Myopia Progression
Three-Year Study from its Clinical Evaluation of a Dual-Focus Myopia Control 1-Day Soft Contact Lens Study
ORTHO-K (ORTHOKERATOLOGY also known as OPTICAL RETAINERS)
Ortho-K contact lenses are rigid contact lenses that are worn overnight and may be put on the eye and removed in the morning by parents or the child. During wear, the lenses re-shape the eye surface so that the child can see clearly without spectacles during the following day. Sometimes a top-up pair of glasses may be necessary if, for example, there is a significant amount of astigmatism in the prescription. The resulting corneal shape has been shown to slow the progression of myopia significantly as well as giving spectacle-free daytime vision. Since this method requires special skills and advanced corneal mapping (topography), the Ortho-K contact lenses not all Eye Care Practitioners are able to offer this.
More Information about Orthokeratology
Source:
Efficacy and Acceptability of Orthokeratology for Slowing Myopic Progression in Children
Myopia control with orthokeratology contact lenses in Spain: a comparison of vision-related quality-of-life measures between orthokeratology contact lenses and single-vision spectacles.
Video from Paragon Science:
SOFT PROGRESSIVE LENSES
There are a number of specialist soft lenses (including disposable lenses) which have an altered peripheral focus which has been shown to reduce the one mechanism that drives myopic progression. These are as comfortable to wear as normal soft lenses and are well tolerated by children as young as 6 years of age. A common myth is that children cannot wear lenses. The vast majority of children cope very well with placing the lens on the eye and removing themselves. It is imperative that these are fitted by appropriate professionals and that regular appointments be attended and hygiene routines are strictly
adhered to.
Source:
Peripheral defocus with spherical and multifocal soft contact lenses
The effect of multifocal soft contact lenses on peripheral refraction.
Multifocal contact lens myopia control.
Efficacy Comparison of 16 Interventions for Myopia Control in Children: A Network Meta-analysis.
ATROPINE EYE DROPS
Atropine eye drops are used by Ophthalmologists during an eye examination to determine the absolute focussing error of an eye. The drug prevents the pupil from getting smaller, therefore it remains large even in bright conditions. It also stops the eye from changing focus for itself, so that after having the drops, near objects appear blurred. In that type of clinical examination, 1% Atropine is used, but studies have shown good results for slowing myopia control with only 0.01% Atropine. This very low concentration has much less of an effect on the blurring of near vision and does not therefore cause any problems for carrying out school work.
Source:
Atropine – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
One-year multicenter, and efficacy study of 2% pirenzepine ophthalmic gel in children with myopia.
Treatment of childhood myopia: changes after stopping atropine 0.01%, 0.1% and 0.5%.
SPECIAL SPECTACLE LENSES
If contact lenses are not an option, then glasses are necessary for clear distance vision. Bifocal glasses (clear distant vision on top, reading vision on the bottom) or progressive addition lenses (PALs) may have a slight advantage for reducing myopia over ‘ordinary’ single vision distance glasses. The current literature suggests this is the least effective of all the myopia control methods. Spectacle lens manufacturers are researching specially designed myopia control lenses. Currently these are only available in some countries and evidence suggests customised spectacle lenses offer only a ‘moderate effectiveness’ in slowing myopia.
These lenses can be of use as part of a combined approach to myopia control. ‘myopia.caretm’ is committed to delivering a complete range of treatments and will
advise professionals on a care plan that have an evidence based approach using the full range of accredited strategies and products.