keep your eye on myopia management!

Myopia is an eye condition that results in poor or blurred vision when viewing in the distance. It is also known as near-sightedness because  people with myopia can still see things clearly that are close.

In myopic eyes, commonly, the length of the eyeball is longer than it should be, causing images of distant objects to be focused ‘in front of ‘ rather than ‘on’ the light sensitive layer of the eye known as the retina.

Current research indicates that both genetics and environmental factors determine whether a child will be myopic. They also play a role in the progression of myopia.

However, while we cannot change their genetics, it is useful to know that environment plays a significant role in myopia and therefore, you can use some simple strategies that will help protect their vision now and into the future.

understand the risk factors

Of the many factors found associated with myopia, such as ethnicity, parental myopia and urban living, two factors are significant and found to be causally related.

Near work and education
The greater the time spent on near work, the greater the risk of myopia- both onset and progression. In children of the same age, those who were in a higher class/grade at school (greater academic load) have a more myopic refractive error.

Low outdoors time
Those that spend less time outdoors are at significant risk of myopia.

The International Myopia Institute recommends spending a minimum of 2 hours outdoors per day!

maw2023 - prevalence
Myopia Prevalance and Treatment

know the related diseases

If left untreated, myopia will gradually worsen. People with high myopia (-5.00D or worse) have an increased risk of retinal detachment, cataracts, myopic degeneration and glaucoma, which can all cause vision loss.

Ensure your patients are aware of the risk of these conditions associated with developing high myopia. Slowing progression is key, and with healthy changes to our habits and lifestyles, plus intervention treatments when needed, we can stop myopia from being the leading cause of avoidable vision loss.

Developing a myopia management plan based on your patients risk profile, current state, and suitable treatments with regular check ups will go a long way to avoiding vision loss.

get myopia managed

Myopia may be delayed or prevented by spending less time on devices and more time outdoors, possibly due to increased exposure to sunlight or the need to look into the far distance regularly.

While myopia cannot be completely prevented, when it onsets, it can be managed through the use of specially designed glasses or contact lenses – and through therapeutics (i.e. eye drops).

These management approaches aim to slow the progress of myopia thus reducing the risk of the eye reaching higher levels of myopia.

maw2023 - outdoors
IMI Infographic

the facts

Our friends at the International Myopia Institute have been busy collaborating, researching and disseminating evidence-based findings on myopia onset, progression and prevention.

There are a range of clinical summaries in multiple languages discussing the onset, progression, genetics, risk factors, treatment and more.

Access their research for free at myopiainstitute.org!

Get involved!

What can I do?

Embed myopia management into your practice!

  1. Get familiar with the latest treatments >
  2. Equip your frontline workers with the ability to discuss myopia with patients >
  3. Keep management guides handy, including the BHVI myopia management guidelines, the BHVI myopia calculator, and the IMI’s myopia infographics.

...and importantly, spread the word!

keep your eye on myopia updates & more!

Our site uses cookies. By continuing to use this website, you agree to their use. For more details, please check our Privacy Policy.