Our Services Myopia Control Services

Protecting Your Child’s Vision: Understanding and Managing Myopia

Myopia Control Services
Myopia control services focus on managing and preventing myopia in children, featuring a dedicated team of experienced ophthalmologists and optometrists, to provide professional services and customised myopia control plans for our clients.

Myopia is not a one-time issue; it requires ongoing care. The patience and cooperation of parents with our team are essential for timely monitoring of each child's condition.

What is Myopia?
Myopia, commonly known as nearsightedness, is a refractive condition where light focuses in front of the eye (retina), leading to blurry distance vision. This condition typically arises from an elongated eyeball. Parents should be alert to signs of myopia, such as children frequently squinting or struggling to recognise distant objects.

Risk Factors for Developing Myopia in Children

Several factors can increase the likelihood of developing myopia:

• Family History: Children with one or two myopic parents are at a higher risk of developing myopia ^1,2.
• Onset Age: Early onset of myopia will likely result in a higher risk of aggressive myopia development. For instance, children with less than 0.50D of farsightedness at age 7-8 have a higher risk of developing myopia ³.
• Ethnicity: There is a higher prevalence of myopia in people with Asian ethnicity ⁴.
• Outdoor Activities: Children with myopia often engage in fewer outdoor activities compared to their non-myopic peers. Spending at least 2 hours outdoors daily can help slow down myopia onset ⁵.
• Close Reading Distance: Reading at very close distances (less than 20 cm) for prolonged periods (over 45 minutes) is linked to a higher risk of developing myopia. Inadequate lighting is also a risk ⁶.

Common Complications of High Myopia
High myopia can lead to serious complications, including cataract, glaucoma, retinal detachment, and myopic maculopathy⁷. Incorrect prescriptions for myopia can result in poor vision, negatively impacting a child's academic performance and social interactions. The financial burden of managing myopia and its complications can also be significant if progression is substantial.

Early detection of myopia is crucial, as it allows for timely intervention and helps prevent further deterioration.

Myopia Control Methods
Our myopia control services offer comprehensive eye examinations, personalised myopia control plans, including glasses, eye drops and contact lens-fitting services. Several myopia control options are available:

• Myopia Control Spectacle Lenses
  These innovative lenses feature a defocus-incorporated design, combining a central correction zone for clear distance vision with a surrounding treatment zone that creates a defocused image in front of the retina. This design sends a signal to the eyeball to prevent further elongation. Spectacle lenses are a convenient, non-invasive option and are easy to maintain for young patients. However, children who are active in sports or performances may find cosmetic concerns challenging.
  
  
• Myopia Control Soft Contact Lenses
  These dual-focus lenses consist of concentric rings with varying powers, enabling part of the light to create myopic defocus while correcting vision simultaneously. This process triggers a physiological feedback mechanism that helps slow down the elongation of the eyeball.
  
  Soft contact lenses allow children to enjoy a wider field of view, making them ideal for active, sporty kids. However, proper care and hygiene are crucial to preventing eye infections, and both children and parents must learn how to insert and remove the lenses effectively.
  
  Our services offer daily disposable contact lenses, providing a convenient and hygienic option for myopia management. These lenses are designed for single-day use, ensuring optimal comfort and reducing the risk of eye infections.
  
  
• Atropine Eye Drops
  Low-dose atropine eye drops have been shown to effectively prevent the onset of myopia and slow down its progression in children ⁸. By inhibiting excessive scleral growth, atropine helps control myopia. These drops are easy to administer and serve as a suitable alternative for parents who prefer their children not to wear glasses or contact lenses. However, it is important to note that atropine can cause pupil dilation and affect accommodation, leading to photophobia and blurred vision for near objects. In such cases, photochromic and progressive lenses may be recommended. Successful treatment with atropine requires good compliance and proper technique for instilling the eye drops to maximise its effectiveness.
  
  
• Combined Therapy
  While a single myopia control method is often sufficient, some cases may require a combined approach if myopia continues to progress significantly. Utilising both atropine and myopia control lenses can enhance treatment efficacy, providing a more comprehensive strategy for managing myopia.
  
  

References
1. Curtin, B. J. (1979). Physiologic vs pathologic myopia: genetics vs environment. Ophthalmology, 86(5), 681–691.

2. Carly Lam (PI). Smart practice for healthy vision for school children, the Quality Education Fund (QEF) HK$1,752,600 (PI), December 2010-2012

3. Hu, Y., Ding, X., Guo, X., Chen, Y., Zhang, J., & He, M. (2020). Association of Age at Myopia Onset With Risk of High Myopia in Adulthood in a 12-Year Follow-up of a Chinese Cohort. JAMA ophthalmology, 138(11), 1129–1134.

4. Rudnicka, A. R., Owen, C. G., Nightingale, C. M., Cook, D. G., & Whincup, P. H. (2010). Ethnic differences in the prevalence of myopia and ocular biometry in 10- and 11-year-old children: the Child Heart and Health Study in England (CHASE). Investigative ophthalmology & visual science, 51(12), 6270–6276.

5. Rose, K. A., Morgan, I. G., Ip, J., Kifley, A., Huynh, S., Smith, W., & Mitchell, P. (2008). Outdoor activity reduces the prevalence of myopia in children. Ophthalmology, 115(8), 1279–1285.

6. Ip, J. M., Saw, S. M., Rose, K. A., Morgan, I. G., Kifley, A., Wang, J. J., & Mitchell, P. (2008). Role of near work in myopia: findings in a sample of Australian school children. Investigative ophthalmology & visual science, 49(7), 2903–2910.

7. World Health Organization - Brien Holden Vision Institute. The impact of myopia. The Impact of Myopia and High Myopia. Report of the Joint World Health Organization–Brien Holden Vision Institute Global Scientific Meeting on Myopia

8. Yam, J. C., Jiang, Y., Tang, S. M., Law, A. K. P., Chan, J. J., Wong, E., Ko, S. T., Young, A. L., Tham, C. C., Chen, L. J., & Pang, C. P. (2019). Low-Concentration Atropine for Myopia Progression (LAMP) Study: A Randomized, Double-Blinded, Placebo-Controlled Trial of 0.05%, 0.025%, and 0.01% Atropine Eye Drops in Myopia Control. Ophthalmology, 126(1), 113–124.