What to do to limit the increase in myopia?

November 8, MSc.BS. Nguyen Thi Minh Ngoc, Head of the Refraction Department, Hanoi High-Tech Eye Hospital (Hitec), said that nearsightedness is also known as “near vision”, a social problem because it affects the quality of life. as well as the comprehensive development needs of children. This refractive error is affecting nearly 30% of the world’s population.

Poor eyesight due to nearsightedness causes difficulty in learning and living, limiting communication as well as outdoor activities. Children understand the lesson slowly, see wrongly, etc. Due to unclear vision, their learning results decrease. Children are tired and not excited to read books and study, which are consequences of nearsightedness.

“Ophthalmologists cannot cure myopia but only use optical correction measures to help children have the best vision to study, live and work with the best quality of life,” said Dr. Ngoc. .

Along with the child’s physical and height development (before age 18), myopia always tends to “increase” (myopia progresses). Some causes that can lead to the onset and progression of myopia are: Improper reading habits and use of electronic devices; look up close for long periods of time; studying and working in poor lighting and blue light environments; less participation in outdoor activities; Improper diet and nutrition, lack of vitamins and micronutrients; genetic factors…

Myopia is considered mild progression when the average increase is less than 0.5D/year. When myopia increases from 2.00D per year, it is called myopia progressing rapidly and very quickly. In Southeast Asia, 24% of children with rapidly progressive myopia will become severely myopic in adulthood.

According to Dr. Ngoc, early-onset myopia, high myopia, and rapid progression of myopia are three high-risk factors that cause severe eye damage. Severe myopia has a high risk of leading to many dangerous, vision-threatening complications such as: retinal degeneration, retinal detachment, macular degeneration, glaucoma, cataracts…

Many studies also show a direct ratio between the increase in myopia and severe myopia and the rate of visual impairment and blindness. Similarly, in severely myopic eyes, the risk of peripheral retinal degeneration and retinal detachment also increases by 40-20 times. Administering 1.00D to myopic eyes reduces the risk of the above retinal complications by 40%.

Therefore, it is necessary to manage myopia to limit the rate of visual impairment and blindness caused by myopia. Myopia management is the development of a coordinated plan between ophthalmologists, parents, teachers and children to slow the onset and reduce the progression of myopia.

As in the case of an 11-year-old girl in Thanh Tri (Hanoi) whose right eye is wearing -2.50D nearsightedness with -0.75D astigmatism; The left eye wears -2.25D nearsightedness. This time at the examination, the family was “excited” because the doctor prescribed a new prescription for glasses with the right eye increased by 0.5D and the left eye increased by 1.25D.

The length of the child’s eyeball axis measured on the machine is 25.16 mm and 25.46 mm. The goal in myopia control is that the axial length of the eyeball does not increase more than 26 mm to minimize eye health risks. Here, children are examined and placed on the myopia management list at the hospital, to control myopia and provide timely eye care.

To avoid increased severity, children need to participate in a myopia control program at a medical facility. Normally, eye exams and refraction measurements are needed every 6 months. Depending on the level of nearsightedness and response to treatment, the doctor may wear glasses, contact lenses or specialized drops to slow down or stop the progression of myopia.