Myopia Awareness Week presents a valuable opportunity for eye care professionals (ECPs) to shed light on the growing concern of myopia and engage with their patients in a caring and informative way.
As an ECP, you're likely familiar with the widespread prevalence of myopia. However, it's crucial to recognize that many patients may not even know what myopia is, let alone see it as a significant concern.
Here are some ways you can introduce this topic during their next eye exam.
Educate patients about common myopia symptoms
Myopia, also known as nearsightedness, manifests through several common symptoms. Many patients are not aware that children need regular eye exams, even if they show no symptoms, so be sure to mention it to all your adult patients and have them watch for these signs:
- Blurred vision when focusing on distant objects
- Frequent squinting
- Eye strain and headaches
- Feelings of eye fatigue
- Difficulty seeing the board at school or reading signs
- Difficulty focusing in class
This is also a great opportunity to let them know that treatments are available for children who are nearsighted.
Encourage early eye exams with children
Initiate conversations about the importance of early and regular eye exams, for all patients who may have children in their life. Myopia has been growing at an alarming rate among children.
Given that young children may struggle to articulate vision problems, educate parents about the signs of nearsightedness:
- Rubbing their eyes
- Excessive blinking
- Sitting too close to the TV
- Frequent clumsiness
- Complaints of headaches or eye discomfort
- Decline in academic performance
Emphasize the importance of early intervention
While there is no cure for myopia, its progression can be effectively managed with early intervention. Furthermore, early diagnosis and management is critical as myopia can increase the risk of sight-threatening conditions such as Myopic macular degeneration, cataracts, glaucoma, and retinal detachment.
By integrating regular visits with HOYA Vision Care Canada’s MiYOSMART lenses into your practice, you can enhance patient outcomes. MiYOSMART, an award-winning solution, clinically proven by a rigorous 2-year randomized controlled trial to slow down myopia progression in children and adolescents by an average of 60%¹. Its efficacy is supported by a robust body of clinical evidence showing sustained efficacy over 6 years with no rebound effect.²
Myopia management: best practices
As an ECP, your role in assisting young patients with managing their myopia is crucial. Myopia management includes the application of clinically proven methods to slow the progression of myopia in children. These methods may include specialized glasses, contact lenses, eye drops, or a combination of interventions tailored to each patient's specific needs.
By initiating myopia management early, ECPs significantly reduce the risk of future eye diseases and complications in adulthood. Here are the key best practices in myopia management – a refresher in the midst of Myopia Awareness Week!
Regular eye exams
Emphasize to your patients the importance of regular eye exams for managing myopia in children. Monitoring changes in vision and intervening early are crucial steps in addressing myopia progression. Despite the misconception that children rarely experience vision issues, the surge in myopia among young patients highlights the importance of proactive eye care from an early age.
Ensure your practice has a method in place for helping patients stay current with their routine eye appointments. By making it convenient for patients to prioritize their eye health, your practice will build trust and loyalty.
Incorporating myopia management at home
Educate parents about habits they can encourage at home to help their children manage myopia. These habits, combined with prescribed treatments, can significantly improve outcomes.
- 2 hours+ cumulative daily outdoor time. Encourage children to spend at least two hours outdoors daily, as studies show that outdoor time can help slow myopia progression.
- 20-20-20 rule. Follow this rule when performing close-up tasks like reading or screen time. Every 20 minutes, look into the distance (about 20 feet away) for 20 seconds.
- Maintain proper reading distance. Teach children to hold reading materials at arm’s length to reduce eye strain and promote healthy vision.
- Limit screen time. Advise limiting screen time for activities outside of schoolwork to prevent eye strain and potential exacerbation of myopia.
Sunlight and myopia management
The research is clear: regular outdoor time is effective for slowing the progression of myopia or preventing it altogether³. Outdoors, key factors such as sunlight exposure, reduced near-distance work, and increased vitamin D levels contribute to this beneficial effect. Among these, sunlight appears to have the most significant impact on myopia management.
Make sure to advise parents to have their kids spend more time outdoors while also recommending protective sun lenses.
HOYA Canada’s MiYOSMART lenses for myopia management
HOYA Vision Care Canada developed MiYOSMART as a solution to help slow myopia progression, while still offering protection from harmful UV rays and intense sunlight.
Clinical trials have revealed the efficacy of MiYOSMART technology in managing myopia progression. Follow-up studies conducted over six years have corroborated its sustained treatment effect, with an average cumulative progression of less than -1.00 diopter and no observed rebound effect².
MiYOSMART Sunbird Polarized: for myopic children who love the outdoors
MiYOSMART Sunbird provides protection against intense sunlight and glare, particularly benefiting photophobic children undergoing atropine treatment for myopia management. Additionally, the lenses preserve vivid contrast and colours, allowing children to fully take in the beauty of the outdoors.
MiYOSMART Chameleon Photochromic: for myopic children on the go
Our innovative photochromic spectacle lenses, MiYOSMART Chameleon, are designed to slow myopia progression. These lenses automatically adapt to varying sunlight levels, eliminating the need for separate indoor and outdoor eyewear. MiYOSMART Chameleon lenses swiftly shift from category 2 tinting outdoors to clear indoors ensuring visual comfort and protection in all lighting conditions.
Recap: tips for spreading myopia awareness at your practice
Use Myopia Awareness Week as a nudge to educate your patients and their children about this pressing issue. To sum up, here are some ways you can implement this at your practice:
- Encourage regular eye exams
- Educate your patients about symptoms
- Inform parents on best myopia management practices
- Prescribe MiYOSMART lenses as part of your treatment plan
Frequently asked questions
How can you effectively communicate the goal of myopia management to your patients?
Start by empathizing with your patients and avoiding technical jargon. Clearly communicate that the primary aim is to ensure normal, natural eye growth for young patients. For those at risk of developing myopia, gently introduce the concept of myopia management and offer practical tips for maintaining good vision hygiene.
How can I differentiate my practice in terms of myopia care?
To differentiate your practice in myopia care, focus on creating a positive customer experience and build trust with your patients through an evidence-based approach. Consider utilizing biometry to measure eye length, aiding in early risk detection and treatment progress assessment. While biometry enhances accuracy and value, it's not essential for providing evidence-based treatment. Emphasize personalized treatment options and their benefits in alignment with the patient's needs and lifestyle.
Are there any lifestyle factors or habits that can contribute to myopia progression, and how can patients mitigate these factors?
Yes, certain lifestyle factors such as excessive near work, limited outdoor time, and prolonged screen exposure can contribute to myopia progression. Patients can mitigate these factors by incorporating regular breaks during near-work, spending more time outdoors, and practicing good screen habits such as the 20-20-20 rule.
References
¹ Lam CSY, Tang WC, Tse DY, Lee RPK, Chun RKM, Hasegawa K, Qi H, Hatanaka T, To CH. Defocus Incorporated Multiple Segments (DIMS) spectacle lenses slow myopia progression: a 2-year randomized clinical trial. British Journal of Ophthalmology. Published Online First: 29 May 2019. doi: 10.1136 bjophthalmol-2018-313739 https:// bjo.bmj.com/content/104/3/363
² Lam CSY, Tang WC, Zhang HY, et al. Long-term myopia control effect and safety in children wearing DIMS spectacle lenses for 6 years. Sci Rep. 2023;13(1):5475. DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-32700-7.
³ Ho C.-L., Wu W.-F., Liou Y. M. Dose-response relationship of outdoor exposure and myopia indicators: a systematic review and meta-analysis of various research methods. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2019;16(14):p. 2595. doi: 10.3390/ijerph16142595