Myopia has turned into a fast accelerating eye disease that was once a mild problem. If diagnosis happens during the early stages, it can help avoid any threatening complications later.
There is an increase in myopia cases, and regular eye exams can help you detect the development of any such condition early on. Optometrists check your eyes for blindness, movement, and alignment during these exams.
The numerous tests performed by the optometrist will help determine eye health and any visual needs. Additional tests for glaucoma, pupil dilation, and visual field tests can happen during these exams.
More than eighty percent of young adults in Asia and 50% in the United States and Europe face issues relating to myopia. What are the common issues that optometrists face to tackle myopia?
Objections to Myopia Management
Several reasons can deter the optometrist from implementing myopia management. It can include:
- Doubtfulness regarding the efficacy of myopia restraining strategies,
- Evaluating the chair time of the patients,
- The frightening task of adapting the lens technology,
- Concerns relating to children’s safety while contact lenses, and
- Skepticism about the discussion on myopia management and its cost implications.
Prevailing Conditions
Awareness about the risks with myopia, the science behind it, and treatment efficacy is lacking among most people. Most optometrists currently lack in-depth knowledge of the technical aspects of higher myopic conditions.
The critical contributor refractive error gets altered due to lens thickness, anterior chamber depth, and vitreous chamber depth.
The increase in the axial length or AL at a faster pace vis-à-vis the age can lead to myopia among children. Retinal detachment and myopia macular degeneration affect children with higher AL.
Many old age patients have torn retinas or early cataracts that result in high myopia. Addressing these conditions from childhood can help control the aftermath during the later stages.
Most optometric services concentrate on selling eyewear, contributing around 4/5th of the revenue. It can lead to hesitance among the eye care service providers, but it is not a significant deterrent. Experts suggest several other factors can impact this decision.
It is worth mentioning that the growing competition from the e-retailers for eyewear, addressing myopia management can help to be resilient in the optical business.
Conversing With Patients
Explaining the concept of myopia management to the patients in easy terms they can relate to can help make the process easier. Optometrists can use daily life examples, as these can help them to form associations and understand quickly.
Using technical terms with patients and discussing their impact on how the leap to myopia can help make them understand it better.
After finally leading to the mold, taking them through the various facts of myopia management can help discuss the cost implications. Highlighting the aspect that the patient can get a better vision as reshaping the cornea can help align the light rays to their eye.
The Consultation
It is critical for an optometrist not to scare the patients during the consultation. Making them aware of the available treatment options and establishing trust is the first step in the consultation process.
It follows a formal consultation where you can take them through the technical aspects of the treatment.
Highlighting how lifestyle can help delay the onset of myopia and its progression can be a good way forward. It is also advisable to reduce the time while looking at a digital device or increase the distance from them to make a change.
Atropine therapy is beneficial for the treatment of myopia as it can slow the progression.
The State of Technology
Various soft lens options with multifocal ability are available from Biofinity, NaturalVue, MiSight, etc.
A complete myopia management solution is underway by Johnson & Johnson Vision (JJV) with the launch of a new set of Soft Therapeutic Lenses. There are numerous options for rigid gas permeable-based lenses. However, there is an increasing demand for new generation lenses.
Customized technology options available in the market include EyeSpace and WAVE NightLens.
Therefore, as you can see, putting due importance on myopia management can help to reduce its occurrence among the masses. However, a crucial factor worth mentioning here is that the refractive error is a vital parameter that can help determine the speed of improvement.
Another aspect critical for improving the conditions is to set realistic expectations and still be in touch with the optometrist. Following on the journey during the first few days after the corrective actions is essential.
You can consult your optometrist to have more in-depth knowledge about the doubtful aspects.