Effective Myopia Control: Tips to Prevent and Manage Nearsightedness in Children and Adults


Hey, Antonio! If you struggle to see distant objects clearly, you know it can be a major disadvantage. Unfortunately, this is the reality for 23% of the global population living with myopia, or nearsightedness. This condition forces more and more people to rely on glasses or contact lenses for everyday tasks like watching TV or driving. In this video, I’m going to cover two key points:

  1. What you should do if you don't have myopia and want to keep it that way.
  2. What steps to take if you already have myopia to prevent it from getting worse.

But first, let's get everyone on the same page—what exactly is myopia?

What Is Myopia?

Myopia is a condition where light from distant objects focuses in front of the retina instead of directly on it. This causes distant objects to appear blurry while close objects remain clear. Myopia usually occurs when the eyeball grows longer than normal or when the cornea and lens have too much refractive power. Both genetics and environmental factors play a role in this condition.

Currently, myopia affects about 23% of the world’s population, but by 2050, this number could rise to 50%. So, what can we do to address this growing problem?

Preventing Myopia: The Role of Outdoor Time

Our eyes grow from infancy through our late teens, similar to how our height increases. During this period, creating the right environment to prevent excessive eye growth is crucial. While we can't control genetics, we can influence environmental factors—one of the most important being outdoor time.

Research shows that children who spend more than 14 hours a week outside are significantly less likely to develop myopia. There are several theories about why outdoor time is so beneficial. Some suggest that the intensity of natural light stimulates the retina in a way that helps prevent myopia. Others believe it's simply because everything outdoors is farther away, reducing the strain on the eyes. Regardless, the best current recommendation is to ensure children spend at least two hours outside each day.

The Taiwanese government has even adopted this approach to combat the rising rates of myopia among its citizens. A 2019 meta-analysis of over 3,000 children confirmed that outdoor time is the most critical factor in preventing myopia and should be the bare minimum in our efforts to tackle this issue.

Reducing Near Work

In addition to increasing outdoor time, reducing the amount of time spent on near work—like using phones or tablets—is also essential. A review of 14 studies found that half of them identified near work as a significant contributor to the rising rates of myopia.

So, the takeaway is this: outdoor time is vital for children, and reducing near work whenever possible can help prevent them from needing glasses in the first place.

Managing Myopia in Adults

If you're over 24 and don’t have myopia, consider yourself fortunate—the likelihood of developing it at this age is minimal. However, if you already have myopia, it's important to know that while it can’t be reversed, there are ways to slow its progression. This is where "myopia control" comes in, the main focus of this video.

Myopia Control Options

There are two main types of myopia control: optical and pharmaceutical.

Optical Myopia Control:
This includes specially designed glasses or contact lenses proven to slow myopia progression. Companies like Hoya and Essilor have developed myopia control lenses that can reduce progression by up to 50%. For example, if a child’s myopia is expected to worsen from -1 to -5 diopters by age 18, using these lenses could limit the increase to just -3 diopters. The evidence supporting the effectiveness of these lenses is strong, and many manufacturers even offer guarantees—if your prescription changes by more than 0.5 diopters within a year, you may get a new set of lenses free of charge.

Contact lenses are another great option. CooperVision's MiSight lenses are particularly effective, also reducing progression by about 50%. The advantage of contact lenses is that they allow children to participate in outdoor activities like sports without worrying about breaking their glasses, while still controlling myopia. However, MiSight lenses do require a significant commitment—10 hours of wear per day, six days a week.

Pharmaceutical Myopia Control:
This involves using low-dose atropine eye drops, which have also been shown to reduce myopia progression by about 50%. The treatment requires one drop in each eye every night until the condition stabilizes. While effective, this method can be more challenging due to the need for frequent prescriptions and the potential for side effects. Additionally, there's a risk of "rebound" myopia if the drops are suddenly discontinued.

Conclusion

Optical myopia control methods tend to be easier to implement than pharmaceutical ones, though both are viable options. Atropine does require more frequent optometrist visits and comes with additional side effects, but some patients may benefit from combining both methods.

I would love to delve deeper into how these options work, but to keep this video concise and accessible, I’ll save that for another time. Myopia control is an evolving field, so watch this space for updates on new options as they become available.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Easy Kidney-Friendly Salad Dressing Recipe with Hummus – Low Sodium & Low Potassium

Image
I’m Michelle Crosmer, a renal dietician, and today I’m excited to share with you one of the easiest salad dressings you’ll ever make. Whether you're managing kidney health or just looking for a simple, nutritious option, this dressing is perfect. Let’s dive in! Step 1: Build Your Salad Before we get to the dressing, let’s start with the salad itself. I’ve prepared a large, single-serving salad that includes: 3 cups of leafy greens : I used 2 cups of butter lettuce and 1 cup of raw spinach. You can choose any greens you prefer. 1 cup of assorted vegetables : I added ½ cup of tomatoes and ½ cup of cucumbers. If you're on a low-potassium diet, swap out high-potassium vegetables like tomatoes for options like bell peppers or jicama. ½ cup of plant-based protein : For this salad, I used edamame, but you can choose chickpeas, black beans, tofu, or tempeh, depending on your protein and potassium needs. This salad is just the right portion size for me, but feel free to adju...
Read more

Finding the Best Milk for Chronic Kidney Disease: A Complete Guide

Image
If you have chronic kidney disease (CKD), choosing the right milk can make a big difference in your health. In this guide, we’ll explore various types of milk, including cow's milk, almond milk, oat milk, rice milk, soy milk, and more. I’ll also share what to look for when selecting a kidney-friendly milk and specific brands that meet these criteria. Let’s dive in! What Makes a Milk Kidney-Friendly? For people with CKD who are not on dialysis , protein content in milk is a key consideration. One cup of regular cow's milk contains about 8 grams of protein, which can be as much as 20% of your daily protein intake. For many with CKD, it's better to get protein from other sources. This is where plant-based milk alternatives come in handy, offering lower protein content and a wider variety of choices. Other Important Factors to Consider: Phosphorus: Cow's milk is also high in phosphorus, which can harm your kidneys and cardiovascular system if consumed in excess....
Read more

Constipation: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment Options by Dr. Shravan Bohra

Image
Hello, I am Dr. Shravan Bohra, a liver disease specialist and gastroenterologist at Apollo Hospital, Ahmedabad. Today, I want to talk to you about an issue that affects many people worldwide — constipation, also known as "kabzi" in Hindi. What is Constipation? Constipation, or "kabzi," is a common digestive disorder that affects people of all ages, whether it's children, adults, or the elderly. Regardless of gender, almost everyone experiences constipation at some point in their life. But what exactly does constipation mean? Constipation occurs when: You go to the toilet less frequently, sometimes only once every two or three days. You need to strain during bowel movements. Your stool is hard, dry, or lumpy. After a bowel movement, you still feel like your bowel hasn't fully emptied. These symptoms indicate that you may be suffering from constipation. Types of Constipation Constipation can generally be classified into two types: chronic and acute...
Read more