April 7, 2018 ::
http://www.optometry.org.au/qld/professional-development-events/australian-vision-convention.aspx ::
Mark presented the latest research on Myopia Control for kids with progressive myopia and the use of orthoK for this. The incidence of myopia slide highlighted:
- 1 in 6 of the world’s population is myopic (2018) ::
- 1/3 of these reside in SE Asia ::
- Taiwan close to 90% of young adolescents are myopic – The highest rates of myopia are seen in Asians and Latin Americans (BHVI) ::
- USA myopia has doubled in the last 20 years ::
- By 2020 we expect to have 2.5 Billion (32%) people on the planet with myopia ::
- The prevalence among Australian 12-year-olds doubled between 2005 and 2011 ::
- Age of onset seems to be lowering ::
- From this Mark went on to highlight:
- Myopia has been described as a classic industrial disease and a adaption of modernity and as such by definition is not easy to prevent and treat.
- It is interesting that the rates are now increasing with reading materials now emitting light and are not simply written sheet.
- Research is targeted at 5 causative factors:
- Genetics (predisposition not a destiny) –
- Environmental influences (light, near work, exercise, diet, retinal defocus) –
- Behavioral influences –
- Time spent outdoors and –
- Hours of near work + Binocular Vision Status ::
- It really is the length of the eye that matters in Myopia as:
- The chance of vision impairment by age 75:
- An axial length of 30mm or more means a 90% risk –
- Axial lengths between 26 and 30mm are associated with a 25% –
- Onset likely to be earlier in the 28-30mm group ::
So what have we done at Mark Hinds Optometrists?
We have invested heavily in diagnostic equipment such as a Zeiss IOL Master and OCT technology the measures the length (biometry) of the eye so we can measure change and adjust treatment accordingly.
We are dedicated to myopia control as: ::
- The prevalence among Australian 12-year-olds doubled between 2005 and 2011!!!!!!!