The Importance of Early Myopia Detection & Management

In recent years, there has been a concerning and notable surge in myopia among children, raising public health alarms worldwide.
According to the World Health Organization, the prevalence of myopia has reached unprecedented levels, affecting around 50% of young individuals in some Asian countries and approximately 42% globally.

This sharp rise has been attributed to various factors, including increased screen time, reduced outdoor activities, and genetic predisposition.

It is now more important than ever to detect myopia as early as possible.

Optometrists across the world are turning to emerging technologies to help detect and manage myopia in children. With proper myopia assessment and management, parents can effectively mitigate against the worst effects of myopia.

In today’s blog, we’ll be discussing the cutting-edge technology that’s helping UK optometrists in diagnosing and managing myopia, ensuring that your patients have the best advice to take home.

Early detection of myopia

As you well know, the early detection of myopia is essential. Historically, you’d need to invest in a biometer, keratometer, and autorefractor, all of which working together to help detect myopia as early as possible.

This works, despite being a little unintuitive.

Many optometrists are turning to emerging technologies, such as OCULUS’ Myopia Master® to help streamline and upgrade the early detection process.

The above brings together detection, reporting and management, making it significantly easier for optometrists around the world to detect and manage myopia in their young patients.

The earlier we detect myopia, the better, but communicating the lifelong impacts of myopia with children and parents can be difficult. Emerging technology is also helping optometrists to communicate with parents and children about myopia, here’s how.

How technology is making communicating with parents about myopia easier

Explaining to parents and children that myopia is a life-long incurable condition that needs to be managed can be a difficult conversation.

We all know what needs to be done, but explaining why can be incredibly difficult; sometimes you need resources that support what you’re saying. Technology, once again, is coming to our rescue, with instruments such as the Myopia Master® delivering tailored reports, customised to the individual.

These reports help you explain exactly what’s happening, what you can do to help, and what they can do at home to help prevent their children’s myopia getting any worse.

The report demonstrates the language you should be using, and it can also be taken home (either physically or digitally) for parents to digest in their own time.

How OCULUS are helping UK optometrists in the battle against myopia

To provide the highest-quality service, you need the highest-quality equipment.

Enter: the OCULUS Myopia Master® – a revolution in both myopia detection and management; it’s the all-in-one device, helping to improve the lives of myopic children across the world.

We could talk for hours about the Myopia Master’s® fast and contactless measurement, its reliable and reproducible results, and its ease of use, but the star of the show when it comes to managing myopia in children is the software that accompanies the hardware.

The Myopia Master® provides a comprehensive take-home report for patients, detailing everything they need to know (delivered in easily understood language) in order to successfully manage the development of myopia in their children. Reports can be fully digitised, saving on paper usage.

This report includes:

• A colour coded ‘traffic light’ system showing areas of risk, tailored to the child. This helps parents to avoid behaviours that increase the likelihood of myopia.
• A list of recommended treatments to pursue.
• Detailed information around myopia, ensuring patients are fully informed and all of their questions are answered.

Your patients’ report will cover everything from a prediction of how their myopia will develop, to lifestyle reports and how they can improve.

The Myopia Master® streamlines the job of the eyecare professional, making recommendations on lenses that can be used to help slow myopic growth. The control remains solely in your hands; the device simply makes recommendations you may choose to consider. It’s the perfect myopia management tool that every optometrist should be using.

Want to see the OCULUS Myopia Master® in action?

We understand that it sounds a little too good to be true, however, the Myopia Master® is revolutionising myopia management, helping optometrists better serve their patients and dramatically improving the livelihoods of myopic children in the UK.

To fully understand its potential, we highly recommend booking a demo with our team of experts. We’ll answer any questions you may have, and will run through everything the Myopia Master® can do for your practice and your patients.