Myopia (commonly termed near-sightedness or short-sightedness) has increased in prevalence around the world. In addition to genetic factors, there now exists evidence of numerous environmental factors that contribute to myopia development. It is clear that some forms of early intervention slow the axial elongation (longer eyeball) process and thus the potential amount of myopia.
What Does Not Work or Has Minimal Effect:-
1. Under correction of your glass power.
2. No effects on blue light blocking glasses or Pinhole glasses.
3. Bifocal or Progressive spectacle lens
4. Day time single vision soft contact lenses/rigid gas permeable contact lenses is not
effective in myopia progressive.
What Appears to Work:-
Behavioural Interventions
Increased time spent outdoors to preventing onset of myopia; due to COVID-19 children had increase in myopic shift.
Reduced screen time and less near work decreases the prevalence of myopia; the odds of myopia increased by 2% for every one dioptre-hour of near work per week.
Optical Treatment
Spectacle Lenses
Defocus-Incorporated Multiple Segment (D.I.M.S.) Spectacle lenses, allows clear central vision and introduce myopic defocus in the peripheral retina. On basis of 3 years study, DIMS shows effective result among children.
Highly Aspherical Lenslet Target (H.A.L.T) Spectacle Lenses, these lenses also works on similar principle to DIMS but technology is different.
C.A.R.E Technology spectacle lenses feature patented Cylindrical Annular Refractive Elements to slow down the elongation of the eyeball while delivering good, comfortable vision.
Contact Lenses
Soft multifocal contact lenses have showed a reduction in myopia progression of on average 36.4% and a decrease in axial elongation by 37.9%.
In overnight lenses like Ortho-K the patient wears lens overnight to temporarily flatten the cornea and provide clear vision during the day without any glasses or contact lenses.
Pharmacological Treatment - Atropine eye drops
The ATOM 1 study suggested 1% atropine eye drops nightly over a 2-year period slowed myopic progression by 77% and reduced the axial length elongation (mean axial length increase of 0.39 mm in controls versus no growth in atropine group).
The diluted form of Atropine eye drop (0.01%) is commercially accepted worldwide for myopia control.
Combine Treatment
Combining atropine 0.01% eye drop with Ortho-K appears to increase myopia control efficacy with minimal side effects on pupil size or acuity.
Combination of atropine 0.01% eye drop with peripheral defocus spectacle lens is also helpful in controlling myopia progression.
All these treatment strategies help to prevent and control myopia progression among children.
Super Useful !