Posted by: Mann Eye in Eye Health, News and Events
Progressive Myopia is on the Rise Globally
The subject of myopia is more important than ever as the number of people affected all around the world is on the rise. In an important study on the subject, the American Academy of Ophthalmology predicts a rapid increase in individuals living with myopia in the coming decades, projecting that today’s numbers (around 23% of the world’s population) will grow to more than 49% by 2050.
Although myopia has a hereditary element, most experts agree the significant increase in very recent years is related to environmental factors, including increased screen time and less time spent outdoors, resulting in a deficiency in natural sunlight exposure.
Our Children’s Vision is Declining
You might read a headline like that and just keep moving. But if you have children who use digital devices daily, you may want to lean in. That increase in myopia we just talked about is even more prevalent in young people.
Mann Eye Institute is a leader in the management of Myopic Progression (where the nearsightedness gets worse year over year). Many parents are concerned about children becoming more nearsighted as they are increasingly using more digital devices for both instructional and leisure time. The good news is, myopic progression can be treated, and in many cases, prevented.
Atropine Drops Show Promise in Managing Myopic Progression in Children
A study by the American Ophthalmology Academy showed that atropine eye drops are effective in slowing myopia progression in young children. Specifically, the study showed that over five years, atropine 0.01% eye drops were more effective in slowing myopia progression with less visual side effects compared with other methods and doses.
At Mann Eye Institute, we are proud to be on the leading edge of treatment for myopic progression in our Myopia Management Clinic.
Myopia Control with atropine drops is a type of therapy we offer our patients who are systematically becoming more and more nearsighted year over year. The use of low dose atropine drops on slowing myopia progression has been well studied in several clinical trials. Low dose atropine drops are used once daily at bedtime in both eyes. These drops can be used in conjunction with other modalities or as a standalone option for myopia management. Our clinical team will follow up with the patient every six months to monitor for any changes.
Myopia has become somewhat of an epidemic, especially in younger children. For this reason, we developed the Myopia Management Clinic at Mann Eye Institute, where our vision experts work with young patients and their parents to treat and prevent myopic progression.
Is Pediatric Myopia Management Right for My Child?
At Mann Eye Institute, we want every patient, young and old, to See Life Better. We want to make sure parents are aware, informed and equipped to make important decisions for their children’s ocular health. If your child meets the following criteria, we’d love to meet with you and see if myopic progression management is a good fit.
Who is a candidate?
- 8-17 years old
- Progression of myopia 0.50D or greater
- Family history of myopia
Schedule your child’s evaluation with one of our vision experts specifically trained in Pediatric Myopia Management today.