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Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual... Apr 2021The prevalence of myopia has markedly increased in East and Southeast Asia, and pathologic consequences of myopia, including myopic maculopathy and high... (Review)
Review
The prevalence of myopia has markedly increased in East and Southeast Asia, and pathologic consequences of myopia, including myopic maculopathy and high myopia-associated optic neuropathy, are now some of the most common causes of irreversible blindness. Hence, strategies are warranted to reduce the prevalence of myopia and the progression to high myopia because this is the main modifiable risk factor for pathologic myopia. On the basis of published population-based and interventional studies, an important strategy to reduce the development of myopia is encouraging schoolchildren to spend more time outdoors. As compared with other measures, spending more time outdoors is the safest strategy and aligns with other existing health initiatives, such as obesity prevention, by promoting a healthier lifestyle for children and adolescents. Useful clinical measures to reduce or slow the progression of myopia include the daily application of low-dose atropine eye drops, in concentrations ranging between 0.01% and 0.05%, despite the side effects of a slightly reduced amplitude of accommodation, slight mydriasis, and risk of an allergic reaction; multifocal spectacle design; contact lenses that have power profiles that produce peripheral myopic defocus; and orthokeratology using corneal gas-permeable contact lenses that are designed to flatten the central cornea, leading to midperipheral steeping and peripheral myopic defocus, during overnight wear to eliminate daytime myopia. The risk-to-benefit ratio needs to be weighed up for the individual on the basis of their age, health, and lifestyle. The measures listed above are not mutually exclusive and are beginning to be examined in combination.
Topics: Accommodation, Ocular; Contact Lenses; Disease Progression; Eyeglasses; Global Health; Humans; Myopia; Prevalence; Refraction, Ocular
PubMed: 33909032
DOI: 10.1167/iovs.62.5.6 -
Clinical & Experimental Optometry Jul 2019The prevalence of myopia in children is increasing worldwide and is viewed as a major public health concern. This increase has driven interest in research into myopia... (Review)
Review
The prevalence of myopia in children is increasing worldwide and is viewed as a major public health concern. This increase has driven interest in research into myopia prevention and control in children. Although there is still uncertainty in the risk factors underlying differences in myopia prevalence between ethnic groups, rates in children of East Asian descent are typically higher regardless of where they live. Mounting evidence also suggests that myopia prevalence in children increases with age. Earlier commencement and more rigorous education systems in these countries, resulting in more time spent on near-work activities and less time on outdoor activities, may be responsible for the earlier age of myopia onset. However, to date, the mechanisms regulating myopia onset and progression are still poorly understood. Findings from several studies have shown orthokeratology to be effective in slowing axial elongation and it is a well-accepted treatment, particularly in East Asian regions. While our understanding of this treatment has increased in the last decade, more work is required to answer questions, including: How long should the treatment be continued? Is there a rebound effect? Should the amount of myopia control be increased? To whom and when should the treatment be offered? Practitioners are now faced with the need to carefully guide and advise parents on whether and when to undertake a long somewhat complex intervention, which is costly, both in time and money. In the near future, a greater demand for effective prophylaxis against childhood myopia is envisaged. Other than orthokeratology, atropine therapy has been shown to be effective in slowing myopia progression. While its mechanism of control is also not fully understood, it is likely that it acts via a different mechanism from orthokeratology. Thus, a combined treatment of orthokeratology and atropine may have great potential to maximise the effectiveness of myopia control interventions.
Topics: Adolescent; Child; Child, Preschool; Disease Progression; Humans; Myopia; Orthokeratologic Procedures; Prevalence
PubMed: 30380591
DOI: 10.1111/cxo.12839 -
Medecine Sciences : M/S 2020Myopia is a refractive anomaly, a global public health issue, mainly due to an increase in axial length of the eyeball. Myopia is increasing worldwide with the... (Review)
Review
Myopia is a refractive anomaly, a global public health issue, mainly due to an increase in axial length of the eyeball. Myopia is increasing worldwide with the appearance of a "myopia global growing epidemic". In children under 6 years old, 20 % have abnormalities, the most common of which are primarily refractive abnormalities, followed by strabismus and amblyopia. Myopia presents a major risk of complications, correlated with its severity, such as retinal detachment, retinal neovascularization, early cataracts and glaucoma. In children with high myopia, syndromic myopia must be explored. Early detection of myopia onset and progression is essential to myopia control strategies. The most promising treatments include outdoor activities, defocusing corrective lenses, defocusing contact lenses, orthokeratology and pharmacological treatments with low-dose atropine.
Topics: Age of Onset; Atropine; Child; Child, Preschool; Contact Lenses; Disease Progression; Exercise; Humans; Infant; Myopia; Parks, Recreational
PubMed: 32821053
DOI: 10.1051/medsci/2020131 -
Ophthalmology Nov 2021The prevalence of myopia is increasing around the world, stimulating interest in methods to slow its progression. The primary justification for slowing myopia... (Review)
Review
PURPOSE
The prevalence of myopia is increasing around the world, stimulating interest in methods to slow its progression. The primary justification for slowing myopia progression is to reduce the risk of vision loss through sight-threatening ocular pathologic features in later life. The article analyzes whether the potential benefits of slowing myopia progression by 1 diopter (D) justify the potential risks associated with treatments.
METHODS
First, the known risks associated with various methods of myopia control are summarized, with emphasis on contact lens wear. Based on available data, the risk of visual impairment and predicted years of visual impairment are estimated for a range of incidence levels. Next, the increased risk of potentially sight-threatening conditions associated with different levels of myopia are reviewed. Finally, a model of the risk of visual impairment as a function of myopia level is developed, and the years of visual impairment associated with various levels of myopia and the years of visual impairment that could be prevented with achievable levels of myopia control are estimated.
RESULTS
Assuming an incidence of microbial keratitis between 1 and 25 per 10 000 patient-years and that 15% of cases result in vision loss leads to the conclusion that between 38 and 945 patients need to be exposed to 5 years of wear to produce 5 years of vision loss. Each additional 1 D of myopia is associated with a 58%, 20%, 21%, and 30% increase in the risk of myopic maculopathy, open-angle glaucoma, posterior subcapsular cataract, and retinal detachment, respectively. The predicted mean years of visual impairment ranges from 4.42 in a person with myopia of -3 D to 9.56 in a person with myopia of -8 D, and a 1-D reduction would lower these by 0.74 and 1.21 years, respectively.
CONCLUSIONS
The potential benefits of myopia control outweigh the risks: the number needed to treat to prevent 5 years of visual impairment is between 4.1 and 6.8, whereas fewer than 1 in 38 will experience a loss of vision as a result of myopia control.
Topics: Disease Progression; Global Health; Humans; Incidence; Myopia; Refraction, Ocular; Risk Assessment; Risk Factors
PubMed: 33961969
DOI: 10.1016/j.ophtha.2021.04.032 -
Eye (London, England) May 2022Myopia is a leading cause of visual impairment and has raised significant international concern in recent decades with rapidly increasing prevalence and incidence... (Review)
Review
Myopia is a leading cause of visual impairment and has raised significant international concern in recent decades with rapidly increasing prevalence and incidence worldwide. Accurate prediction of future myopia risk could help identify high-risk children for early targeted intervention to delay myopia onset or slow myopia progression. Researchers have built and assessed various myopia prediction models based on different datasets, including baseline refraction or biometric data, lifestyle data, genetic data, and data integration. Here, we summarize all related work published in the past 30 years and provide a comprehensive review of myopia prediction methods, datasets, and performance, which could serve as a useful reference and valuable guideline for future research.
Topics: Biometry; Child; Disease Progression; Humans; Incidence; Myopia; Refraction, Ocular
PubMed: 34645966
DOI: 10.1038/s41433-021-01805-6 -
Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual... Feb 2019We provide a standardized set of terminology, definitions, and thresholds of myopia and its main ocular complications. (Review)
Review
PURPOSE
We provide a standardized set of terminology, definitions, and thresholds of myopia and its main ocular complications.
METHODS
Critical review of current terminology and choice of myopia thresholds was done to ensure that the proposed standards are appropriate for clinical research purposes, relevant to the underlying biology of myopia, acceptable to researchers in the field, and useful for developing health policy.
RESULTS
We recommend that the many descriptive terms of myopia be consolidated into the following descriptive categories: myopia, secondary myopia, axial myopia, and refractive myopia. To provide a framework for research into myopia prevention, the condition of "pre-myopia" is defined. As a quantitative trait, we recommend that myopia be divided into myopia (i.e., all myopia), low myopia, and high myopia. The current consensus threshold value for myopia is a spherical equivalent refractive error ≤ -0.50 diopters (D), but this carries significant risks of classification bias. The current consensus threshold value for high myopia is a spherical equivalent refractive error ≤ -6.00 D. "Pathologic myopia" is proposed as the categorical term for the adverse, structural complications of myopia. A clinical classification is proposed to encompass the scope of such structural complications.
CONCLUSIONS
Standardized definitions and consistent choice of thresholds are essential elements of evidence-based medicine. It is hoped that these proposals, or derivations from them, will facilitate rigorous, evidence-based approaches to the study and management of myopia.
Topics: Diagnostic Techniques, Ophthalmological; Epidemiologic Studies; Humans; Internationality; Myopia; Refraction, Ocular; Terminology as Topic; Visual Acuity
PubMed: 30817826
DOI: 10.1167/iovs.18-25957 -
Eye & Contact Lens Jul 2018Myopia occurs in more than 50% of the population in many industrialized countries and is expected to increase; complications associated with axial elongation from myopia... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
Myopia occurs in more than 50% of the population in many industrialized countries and is expected to increase; complications associated with axial elongation from myopia are the sixth leading cause of blindness. Thus, understanding its etiology, epidemiology, and the results of various treatment regiments may modify current care and result in a reduction in morbidity from progressive myopia. This rapid increase cannot be explained by genetics alone. Current animal and human research demonstrates that myopia development is a result of the interplay between genetic and the environmental factors. The prevalence of myopia is higher in individuals whose both parents are myopic, suggesting that genetic factors are clearly involved in myopia development. At the same time, population studies suggest that development of myopia is associated with education and the amount time spent doing near work; hence, activities increase the exposure to optical blur. Recently, there has been an increase in efforts to slow the progression of myopia because of its relationship to the development of serious pathological conditions such as macular degeneration, retinal detachments, glaucoma, and cataracts. We reviewed meta-analysis and other of current treatments that include: atropine, progressive addition spectacle lenses, orthokeratology, and multifocal contact lenses.
Topics: Atropine; Contact Lenses; Disease Progression; Eyeglasses; Humans; Muscarinic Antagonists; Mydriatics; Myopia; Orthokeratologic Procedures; Recreation
PubMed: 29901472
DOI: 10.1097/ICL.0000000000000499 -
Indian Journal of Ophthalmology Dec 2020Phakic intraocular lenses (pIOLs) are a common solution for the surgical correction of high myopia and myopia in thin corneas. Global trends result in increasing rates... (Review)
Review
Phakic intraocular lenses (pIOLs) are a common solution for the surgical correction of high myopia and myopia in thin corneas. Global trends result in increasing rates of patients with high myopia which will result in increased rates of pIOL implantation. Three types of lenses can be distinguished: anterior chamber angle-supported, anterior chamber iris-fixated, and posterior chamber phakic IOLs. The efficacy of phakic intraocular lenses is generally very good, but pIOLs have undergone many changes over the years to improve the safety profile and decrease pIOL-related complications such as endothelial cell loss, corneal decompensation and cataract formation. This article describes the efficacy and safety profiles of the most recent pIOLs, as well as suggests gaps of knowledge that are deserve additional research to optimize the results of pIOLs.
Topics: Anterior Chamber; Humans; Iris; Lens Implantation, Intraocular; Lenses, Intraocular; Myopia; Phakic Intraocular Lenses
PubMed: 33229653
DOI: 10.4103/ijo.IJO_2995_20 -
Frontiers in Public Health 2022The myopia epidemic has become a global public health problem. Although myopia is progressing worldwide, the recent coronavirus infections 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak has... (Review)
Review
The myopia epidemic has become a global public health problem. Although myopia is progressing worldwide, the recent coronavirus infections 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak has spurred myopia progression. The current evidence-based treatments for humans are atropine eye drops, optical treatment with defocus, use of orthokeratology, extending proximity working distance, pausing from near work every half hour and increased time outside the home. Studies on myopia using animal models have been conducted for more than 40 years. In recent years, new mechanisms of myopia suppression have been revealed from animal experiments such as inflammation control, intraocular pressure control, light control, and the activity of early growth response protein 1 control. This mini-review provides a summary of the scientific evidence currently available on the control of myopia, and the possible treatments mitigating myopia.
Topics: Atropine; COVID-19; Disease Progression; Humans; Myopia; Ophthalmic Solutions
PubMed: 35619815
DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2022.897600 -
International Journal of Environmental... Jan 2023Myopia is a global public health problem affecting quality of life and work productivity. Data is scarce regarding the effects of near work on myopia. Providing a larger... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
BACKGROUND
Myopia is a global public health problem affecting quality of life and work productivity. Data is scarce regarding the effects of near work on myopia. Providing a larger meta-analysis with life-long perspective, including adults and occupational exposure seemed needed.
METHODS
We searched PubMed, Cochrane Library, Embase and Science Direct for studies reporting myopia prevalence in near work. Myopia was defined as a mean spherical equivalent ≤ -0.50 diopter. We performed a meta-analysis using random-effects model on myopia prevalence, myopia progression per year, and odds ratio (OR) of myopia in near work, completed by subgroup analyses and meta-regressions on patients' characteristics, type of work in adults, geographic zones, time and characteristics of near work.
RESULTS
We included 78 studies, representing a total of 254,037 participants, aged from 6 to 39 years. The global prevalence of myopia in near work was 35% (95% CI: 30 to 41%), with a prevalence of 31% (95% CI: 26 to 37%) in children and 46% (95% CI: 30 to 62%) in adults. Myopia progression was -0.39 diopters per year (-0.53 to -0.24 D/year), ranging from -0.44 (-0.57 to -0.31) in children to -0.25 D/year (-0.56 to 0.06) in adults. The odds of myopia in workers exposed vs. non-exposed to near work were increased by 26% (18 to 34%), by 31% (21 to 42%) in children and 21% (6 to 35%) in adults. Prevalence of myopia was higher in adults compared to children (Coefficient 0.15, 95% CI: 0.03 to 0.27).
CONCLUSIONS
Near work conditions, including occupational exposure in adults, could be associated with myopia. Targeted prevention should be implemented in the workplace.
Topics: Adult; Child; Humans; Quality of Life; Myopia; Refraction, Ocular; Odds Ratio; Prevalence
PubMed: 36613196
DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20010875