Myopia Management

Short-sightedness, or myopia in technical terms, is becoming increasingly common in our modern world. Myopia is characterized by difficulty seeing distant things. As a consequence, short-sighted people perceive objects at a distance indistinctly or blurred. Conversely, they can clearly see closer objects.

When it comes to the spread of myopia some studies already speak of an epidemic. The well-known Brien Holden Vision Institute has forecast that by the year 2050 one out of two individuals could be affected by myopia. That is alarming, and it makes it more than clear that early detection and management of myopia are becoming more and more important. For there is no other way to effectively reduce the risks of myopia in children and adolescents.

A comparison illustrates the rapidity of this development: In the year 2000 22.9% of the global population were affected by myopia and 2.7% had high myopia beyond -5 diopters. According to Brien Holden’s forecast, by 2050, 50% of the world’s population could be myopic and at least 10% could be suffering from high myopia. The development is also dramatic within Europe. According to data recently presented by the European Eye Epidemiology Consortium, more than 47% Europeans between 25 and 29 years of age are myopic

Those affected also have a greater risk of developing severe eye disease such as cataract or retinal detachment and eventual blindness. In general it can be said, that the earlier the myopia onset, the higher will be the myopia in the adulthood and the higher will be the risk for severe eye disease.

Why is short-sightedness becoming increasingly common among children? The trend in recent years is alarming. Every second child under the age of 10 is or will become short-sighted. In 2000, 22.9% of the world’s population was affected by myopia. According to the Brien Holden Vision Institute, 50% of the world’s population could suffer from myopia by 2050. The trend in Europe is also alarming. Currently, a good 47% of 25 to 29-year-olds are short-sighted.

Tablets, smartphones, and laptops have a massive influence on media consumption today. At the same time, they are also a new source of strain on the eyes. People often check their e-mails or read the news on their smartphones first thing in the morning. Then, they usually spend hours working at a computer. Constant close-range vision like this significantly increases myopia. At the same time, it is not just a matter of screen time but also the intensive use of digital devices in general. This is becoming increasingly prevalent, particularly among children. Interestingly, there are clear international differences.

People in Asia spend an average of 14 hours a day on the Internet compared to 6 hours in the USA. In addition, people in these countries also neglect outdoor activities in natural and bright light. Australia is a different story: Here, only 30% of 17-year-olds are short-sighted. At the same time, Australians have more than three hours of activity per day. This is well above the average for Americans, Asians, and Europeans, with a maximum of between one and two hours a day. This is a major disadvantage for the eyes.

Those affected can still see perfectly at close range. This is why they can usually read or work using a screen without any problems.
Myopia becomes noticeable when recognising distant objects.

The image becomes blurred, as described above.

The following symptoms may be signs of myopia:

An ophthalmologist or optician generally performs an eye test. Short-sightedness is tested using eye charts at a distance of five to six metres. First, the test is performed with the left eye covered, and the right eye is tested once without and once with corrective lenses. Then the other eye is tested using the same procedure.

If the eye test indicates the presence of myopia, consulting an ophthalmologist is recommended. To be on the safe side, the ophthalmologist determines whether other diseases or changes to the eye are present and treats them if necessary.

There are three ways to treat short-sightedness. By wearing glasses, contact lenses or through surgery. Glasses for short-sighted people shift the point at which distant objects are in focus so that the focus is positioned directly in the retinal plane. Diffusing lenses with a negative refractive index are used. Eye surgery may be an option for people who cannot or do not want to wear glasses or contact lenses. Lasers are increasingly used for this surgery. Today, the main laser procedure used to correct short-sightedness is known as LASIK (Laser-Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis). Sufficient corneal thickness is an important prerequisite for LASIK surgery. In addition, the visual acuity should not have changed significantly in the past months.

In the case of more severe myopia and if the cornea is not thick enough, ophthalmologists can implant an artificial lens. These lenses are called ICLs (intraocular contact lenses). This procedure is preferably performed on younger patients. In older patients, myopia is often corrected as part of cataract surgery. In this procedure, the patient’s own lens is replaced with an artificial lens.

Myopia, also known as short-sightedness, is a common visual disorder that can affect people of all ages. Children in particular should be given special attention as the eye is still growing at a young age. Myopia management is a modern approach to slowing the progression of myopia and reducing the risk of eye diseases such as retinal detachment or macular degeneration.

More and more people are suffering from the consequences of myopia, especially due to the intensive use of digital devices. Occupational demands, such as working long hours at the computer, as well as changes in lifestyle can favour the progression of myopia. The increasing use of tablets and smartphones can also accelerate the development of myopia in children. The risk of eye diseases, such as damage to the retina, increases with the increase in short-sightedness. Early myopia management, especially in children, can slow down this progression and improve quality of life in the long term.

There are various scientifically proven methods to slow down the progression of myopia:

Myopia management is a holistic approach that not only focuses on short-term improvements in vision, but offers long-term solutions to maintain eye health. It combines different techniques and technologies to slow down the progression of myopia and achieve the best results for patients:

Regular eye growth checks are an essential aspect of successful myopia management. The Myopia Master® software and Pentacam® AXL Wave show eye growth in detail and visualize the success of your treatment. The annual growth in eye length is calculated and documented. The software visualizes the success of the treatment measures, such as Ortho-K lenses or special myopia spectacle lenses. If the treatment does not have the desired effect, you can use the information to optimize your treatment. The documentation supports your communication with your customer.

In addition, you can also precisely predict how the myopia will develop in the future. Using the guided myopia software gives you greater security and creates a more convincing experience for the customer. Simply structured, intuitive to use, and incomparably precise. Your perfect start to treating an increasingly important issue! This simple and professional myopia management concept enables you to achieve satisfied customers in 5 simple steps:

Now, the myopia software is not only linked to the Myopia Master® but can also process data from the Pentacam® AXL Wave. This is a major advantage for you, as it allows you to expand or change your equipment without losing data. Progression data is the cornerstone of myopia management. That is why myopia software can be used simultaneously with both devices to further increase your flexibility and efficiency.