What is Myopia?
Myopia is a rising epidemic in the developed world with approximately 50% of people in the United States diagnosed as myopic and almost 90% in parts of Asia ^[1]. In addition to the social, emotional, and financial effects of myopia, there are anatomical ramifications as well. Highly myopic patients are exposed to unique risks due to their elongated axial length (front to back length of the eye). While refractive surgery may eliminate a patient’s myopic refraction once it stabilizes, it does not eliminate the pathological threat associated with high myopia.


What can we do?
1) Get your children outdoors. Many large studies^{[1, 2]} have shown that children who spend more time outside, particularly in the pre-school age group, are less likely to develop myopia or to lesser degrees.

2) Make sure your children always wear the most current glasses prescription. Studies have found that children who are under-corrected become more nearsighted faster^[4]. Children aged 9-11 in particular may need lens power changes more often than once yearly.

3) Practice good visual hygiene. The 20/20/20 rule encourages looking at something 20 feet away, every 20 minutes, for at least 20 seconds. Do not hold near material too close to your eyes.

1. Jones-Jordan, L.A., et al., Time outdoors, visual activity, and myopia progression in juvenile-onset myopes. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci, 2012. 53(11); p. 7169-75.
2. Wu, P.C., et al., Outdoor activity during class recess reduces myopia onset and progression in school children. Ophthalmology, 2013. 120(5): p. 1080-5.
3. Muhamedagic, L., et al., Relation between physical activity and myopia progression in student population. Med Glas (Zenica), 2013. 10(2): p 385-90.
4. Legerton, J.A.C., Brian, Myopia Regulation: Myth or Megatrend. Review of Optometry, 2009.
5. Santodomingo-Rubido, J., et al., Factors preventing myopia progression with orthokeratology correction. Optom Vis Sci, 2013. 90(11): p. 1225-36
6. Smith, E.L., 3rd, Optical treatment strategies to slow myopia progression: effects of the visual extent of the optical treatment zone. Exp Eye Res, 2013. 114: p. 77-88.
7. Walline, J.J., L.A. Jones, and L.T. Sinnott, Corneal reshaping and myopia progression. Br J Opthalmolol, 2009. 93(9): p. 1181-5.
8. Charm, J. and P. Cho, High Myopia-partial reduction ortho-k: a 2-year randomized study. Optom Vis Sci, 2013. 90(6): p. 530-9.
9. Anstice, N.S. and J.R. Phillips, Effect of dual-focus soft contact lens wear on axial myopia progression in children. Ophthlology, 2011. 118(6): p. 1152-61.
10. Lam, C.S., et al., Defocus Incorporated Soft Contact lens slows myopia progression in Hong Kong Chinese school children: a 2-year randomized clinical trial. Br J Ophthalmol, 2014. 98(1): p. 40-5.
11. Walline, J.J., et al., A randomized trial of the effect of soft contact lenses on myopia progression in children. Invest Ophthalmolo Vis Sci, 2008. 49(11): p. 4702-6.
12. Walline, J.J., et al., Daily disposable contact lens wear in myopic children. Optom Vis Sci, 2004. Apr;81(4):255-9.
13. Cooper, M.D., et al. Current Status on the Development and Treatment of Myopia. Optom Clinical Research. 2012.