Myopia Management

Myopia1 is a long-term, progressive eye disease characterized by excess eye elongation (growth), associated sight-threatening risks and blurry distance vision.

INCREASING GLOBAL EPIDEMIC

• Prevalence of myopia has almost doubled over the last 20 years²

• By the year 2050, more than 50% of the world’s population is anticipated to be myopic²
  
  

MYOPIA RISK FACTORS

The following are found to be risk factors for myopia and its progression:

• Early age onset of myopia³

• Refractive error⁴

• Minimal time outdoors (<2 hrs/day)⁵

• Significant near work or short working distance^6,7

• Myopic parents⁸

ASSOCIATED RISKS OF MYOPIA

Myopia is associated with a higher risk of developing:

• Myopic macular degeneration⁹

• Retinal detachment¹⁰

• Primary open-angle glaucoma¹¹

• Cataracts¹²

• Staphyloma¹³

There is no safe level of myopia because any amount of myopia elevates the risk of sight-threatening complications.^14,15

Odds Ratio of Ocular Disease as a Function of Myopia Relative to Emmetropia ^Chart1

OUR GOAL

With various treatment options, we can now slow myopia progression (eye growth and prescription increases) and reduce associated risks instead of just correcting the visual symptoms with glasses, contact lenses or laser vision correction. Most myopia management treatments work by creating a signal in front of the retina (peripheral myopic defocus) that reduces excessive eye growth. Several myopia management treatment options have shown reduced eyeball elongation by more than 0.3 mm (~equivalent to 0.75 D) during 2-3 years of treatment.^16–19

TREATMENT OPTIONS

Early intervention is essential; best if treatment is started before 12 years of age.

Lifestyle modifications

• Spend 2 hours/day outside to be exposed to natural daylight

• Working distance of at least 1 foot from screen/book/object.

• 20/20 rule (take breaks!): every 20 minutes, look far away for 20 seconds during near activities.

Myopia Control Glasses are a safe and easy treatment that is now available in the United States! This is a great option especially for very young patients or those not interested in contact lenses.
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Specialty Soft Contact Lenses are soft contact lenses worn during the day to correct vision and provide the peripheral defocus that slows eye growth. This is a great option for athletes.
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Corneal Reshaping Therapy (CRT), or orthokeratology, involves gas permeable contact lenses worn overnight and specifically designed to temporarily alter the shape of the cornea, reducing or eliminating the need for corrective lenses during the day. This is a great option for athletes and water activities that allows parental oversight because they are used at night.
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Atropine Eye Drop Therapy incorporates the use of low concentration eye drops that relax the ciliary muscle of the eye and cause the pupil to dilate. These drops work to inhibit the neurochemical cascade that signals the eyeball to grow but may have limited side effects of near blur and light sensitivity²⁴. Atropine eye drops must be used in conjunction with glasses or contact lenses and can be combined with other myopia management treatments²⁵. Allows complete parental control.
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Download our Myopia Management PDF