Overview
In the United States, myopia’s prevalence rate has increased from 25% to 42% in the past 50 years. Worldwide, the highest rates are found in Asian populations, approaching 96% in some regions. Significant increases have occurred within just one generation, which implies that our environment has a significant effect on myopic development, even if there is an underlying genetic component. It is estimated that by 2050, 50% of population will be myopic. Research shows that myopia is a dose-dependent risk factor for many ocular diseases, such as glaucoma, myopic maculopathy, cataract and retinal detachment. A -6.50D myope has 21x higher risk for retinal detachment and 40 x higher risk of myopic maculopathy which is “far in excess of any identified population risk factor for cardiovascular disease.” The risk of cataract and glaucoma is comparable to that of stroke from untreated hypertension. By reducing myopia 50%, the risk of ocular disease goes down more than 10x.
Treatment Options
- Atropine with glasses wearing. Recent reports show that 0.01/0.02/0.05% atropine once a day has a clinically meaningful ability to slow myopia by 50%without significant pupil dilation and light sensitivity, and the effect persists after discontinuation of the treatment. Instilling these drops in children’s eyes once a day reduces eye growth and therefore myopia progression. However, there may be children who are poor responders and may need higher atropine concentrations, and therefore need bifocals/progressives and sunglasses to be comfortable during the treatment. Side effects of atropine may be: pupil dilation, accommodation lag (need for bifocals), allergies, tachycardia, dry eye and mouth, constipation and flushing. This treatment is great for little kids, or kids that can’t master contact lens wear, or those whose myopia is rapidly progressing.
- Soft multifocal contact lenses. Several studies in the past decade have shown that wearing off-label soft multifocal contact lenses with distance concentric designs and a +2.00 / +2.50 peripheral add on a daily basis slow down the development of myopia, as well as elongation of the eye by about 30-45%.The lenses work because they focus light in front of the peripheral retina, and they focus light right on the central retina, which provides people with clear vision. In 2020, MiSight received the first FDA approval as a myopia control treatment with a 59% success rate of myopia change. These options are good for kids that have higher starting prescriptions, or when orthokeratology may be too difficult to fit. Lenses that we use at our office are: MiSight (dailies-FDA approved), NatureVue MF (dailies, off-label) Biofinity MF (monthlies-off label).
- Orthokeratology (Corneal Reshaping) Treatment. Overnight use of orthokeratology (or CRT) lenses flattens the central portion of the cornea, therefore providing clear vision during the day without glasses or contact lenses. These lenses work similarly to distance centered soft multifocal contact lens designs, where the peripheral retinal defocus over time slows down the growth of the eyes, which leads to slowed myopia progression. On average, orthokeratology seems to slow the growth of the eye by a little over 40%, which is similar to the slowing of myopia progression reported for soft multifocal lenses and slightly less than atropine. We only use Paragon CRT lenses for our patients.
Time to Act
Myopia onset usually begins between ages 6-9 and progresses rapidly at the beginning, slowing gradually with age (majority of myopia stops changing around the age 21). Early treatment is vital if lifetime benefits are to be achieved. It is our belief that parents, as well as practitioners, should stop accepting myopia progression as normal or at worst an inconvenience to the patient. Myopia is a highly significant risk factor for ocular health, in addition to its negative effects on lifestyle. It is time to use the tools we have available to actually treat myopia as a progressive disease, same as we do with numerous other conditions.
Additional Resources
MyKidsVision.org, MyopiaProfile.com, ManageMyopia.org, Brilliant Futures App, ParagonVsion.com
Myopia Education Video:
Lens Insertion Video:
Lens Removal Video:
