World Myopia Awareness Week

“The eyes are the windows to the soul.”

Welcome to MrMed's visionary blog to learn about World Myopia Awareness Week. According to the BHVI (Brien Holden Vision Institute) - a nonprofit organization announcement, Myopia Awareness Week 2023 will be honored from May 22nd – 26th.  Myopia is one of the most widespread ocular conditions globally and an important risk factor for children's visual impairment. With an increasing number of people worldwide experiencing myopia, this awareness week is a powerful platform to educate, inform, and inspire action. In this blog post, join us to explore the importance of World Myopia Awareness Week and discover how it aims to promote a clear vision for all. 
 

Theme Of The Year

The theme of World Myopia Awareness Week 2023 is "Keep Your Eye On Myopia." Organized and sponsored by BHVI (Brien Holden Vision Institute), Myopia Awareness Week aims to highlight the importance of myopia management as a crucial aspect of maintaining good eye health, with a particular focus on children.

What Is Myopia? 

Myopia, also called nearsightedness, is a refractive error of the eye that makes it difficult to see clearly in the distance while surrounding things appear clear. It is a visual impairment that can appear in childhood, adolescence, or even adulthood. Myopia occurs when the eyeball's shape is longer than average, or the cornea has an excessive curvature. These structural irregularities disrupt the normal pathway of light entering the eye, causing it to focus in front of the retina rather than on it directly. As a result, distant objects appear blurred to individuals with myopia. 

How Frequent Is Myopia?

Research findings indicate that the worldwide occurrence of myopia is projected to increase from 28% of the global population, equating to around two billion individuals in 2010, to 50% of the world's population, approximately five billion people, by the year 2050 (i.e.), up to half of the world's population is expected to be myopic by 2050. In India, between 1999 and 2019, there was a critical rise in the prevalence of myopia among urban children aged 5 to 15, increasing from 4.44% to 21.15%.
 

Signs Of Myopia

• Blurred vision while looking at the distal object
• Squinting (both eyes partly closed in an attempt to see more clearly)
• Eye strain
• Headaches
• Difficulty Driving or Seeing Road Signs
   

Children with myopia may encounter challenges when seeing whiteboards or screen projections in the classroom setting. While younger children may not expressly communicate their visual difficulties, they may exhibit certain behaviors that indicate potential vision issues. Some of these behaviors include:

• Persistent squinting
• Sitting closer to the object
• Rub their eyes frequently
• Lack of interest or participation
   

Risk Factor
 

Risk factors include family history, environmental factors, age, screen time, and prolonged close-up activities. While these factors are linked to a higher risk of myopia, it is crucial to understand that their presence does not guarantee the development of myopia in every individual. Genetic and environmental factors influence each person's susceptibility to myopia; not everyone with these risk factors will develop the condition. High myopia increases the chance of developing glaucoma (nerve damage at the back of the eyes), cataracts (cloudy appearance), myopic degeneration (damage to the retina), and retinal detachment (thin tissue layer of the retina behind the eye pulls away), leading to impaired vision. The elongation of the eye in myopia can lead to an increased risk of eye floaters caused by structural changes in the eye.

Treatment

• Prescription eyeglasses or contact lenses are designed to rectify the refractive error and provide clear vision. Your doctor will suggest the right option for you.
• Orthokeratology (Ortho-K) involves wearing special contact lenses overnight to reshape the cornea temporarily.
• Atropine eye drops dilate the pupil during the eye examination procedure and before and after eye surgery. It slows down myopia progression in children.
• Refractive surgeries like LASIK (Laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis), Laser-assisted subepithelial keratectomy (LASEK), Photorefractive keratectomy (PRK), or Small incision lenticule extraction (SMILE) may sometimes be considered for stable myopia.

How To Prevent Myopia? 
 

Myopia can be prevented by including certain steps, such as spending time outdoors instead of using devices (reducing screen time). It is encouraged to get exposed to natural light to reduce the myopia risk. Maintain a healthy lifestyle and right posture while reading or using digital devices to lower the straining of the eyes.
 

Additionally, regular eye examination has to be done to detect early symptoms of myopia. If any changes are detected, consider myopia control methods, such as orthokeratology (specially designed contact lens), multifocal contact lenses, or eye drops, as your physician prescribes. 
 

Myth Busting

Myth: Myopia can be caused by seeing in low light or sitting near the TV

Fact: These activities may pressure the eyes temporarily but do not directly cause myopia. Genetic and environmental factors are the primary cause. 
 

Myth: Wearing contact lenses or prescribed glasses makes myopia worse. 

Fact: Glasses or contact lenses correct refractive errors and provide clear vision. They do not worsen the condition. Wearing proper vision correction can reduce eye tension and improve visual comfort.
 

Myth: Doing alternative therapies or eye exercises can cure myopia. 

Fact: No available scientific evidence supports the effectiveness of eye exercises or alternative therapies in curing myopia. Vision therapies may improve visual skills and comfort but do not eliminate the underlying refractive error. 
 

Myth: Myopia is not a serious eye condition. 

Fact: Myopia problems such as retinal detachment, cataracts, myopic macular degeneration, and glaucoma can all result in visual loss if not treated or managed. To avoid such consequences, it is crucial to monitor and treat myopia. 

Myth: If you have a myopia condition, you are not eligible for eye donation. 

Fact: Individuals who wear glasses or have conditions like myopia, hyperopia, astigmatism, or have undergone cataract surgery can still donate their eyes since these conditions typically do not impact the suitability of the cornea for transplantation. 

Reminder To Keep Your Eye Open 

On World Myopia Awareness Week (May 22–26), encourage early detection and treatment, and push for better support and research. Millions of people impacted by these illnesses can be better with this awareness. It's important to raise awareness about myopia to enrich the lives of those with this condition. Show your support by uploading your images on social media using the hashtag #myopiaawarenessweek and #maw2023 to raise awareness and promote solidarity.