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‘Promising’ solutions for myopia control under study
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COPENHAGEN — The prevalence of myopia in children 5 to 15 years old is increasing worldwide, and researchers are seeking solutions to slow the trend, according to Nina Jacobsen, MD, PhD.
There are complications related to myopia, including increased risk of glaucoma, cataract, retinal detachment and, in the higher degrees, maculopathy, Jacobsen said at the World Society of Paediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus Subspecialty Day.
Nina Jacobsen
“Although the low and moderate degrees of myopia, in general, carry a good visual prognosis ... because so many people have myopia, the impact is substantial,” she said.
Recent and “promising” ideas for preventing myopia include pharmaceutical intervention, increased outdoor activity and multifocal contact lenses, according to Jacobsen.
Literature suggests that low-dose atropine “is one of the most promising treatments at the moment,” Jacobsen said. “The concern has always been of the side effects, but it seems with the low-dose atropine, the side effect is very small and insignificant.”
Regarding outdoor activity, Jacobsen said, “Considerable evidence that children who spend more time outdoors during daylight hours are less likely to be or become myopic has been presented.” Studies in Taiwan and China have shown reductions in incident myopia of 25% to 50% when these children spend an additional 40 to 80 minutes outdoors, she said. In Taiwan, an additional 2 hours of outdoor activity time has been added to school programs to address the problem of myopia, she said.
Regarding contact lenses, “Recent studies have shown that the use of multifocal contact lenses in children with myopia may slow the progression of myopia,” possibly by addressing the regulation of eye growth at the peripheral retina, which is now believed to play a role, Jacobsen said. – by Patricia Nale, ELS
Reference:
Jacobsen N. Recent developments in myopia control. Presented at: 34th Congress of the European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons; Sept. 10-14, 2016; Copenhagen, Denmark.
Disclosure: Jacobsen reports no relevant financial disclosures.