Myopia Management in Childhood Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences What is Myopia? Myopia is an eye condition usually characterised by excessive elongation of the eyeball, resulting in image defocus in front of the retina. Myopia usually starts in a child or teenager, and it continues to progress as the child grows. It stabilises in most cases when the child stops growing in their late teens.
Are there problems associated with myopia? Apart from the inconvenience of having to wear glasses, high myopia is also associated with increased risks of potentially blinding eye diseases in adulthood, such as myopic macular degeneration, retinal tears, retinal detachments, staphylomas, cataracts and glaucoma. When to start consultation? Early diagnosis and management of myopia can be important to eye health. As myopia progresses more quickly in young children, it is advisable to:
Genetics, environmental factors and individual characteristics can all contribute to this excess growth. The prevalence of myopia in Singapore is among the highest in the world, with an estimated 25% in preschoolers, rising to over 75% in teens. This is 3-4 times higher than countries such as the United States.
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Screen children at least once between ages 4-6 to establish baseline measurements
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Examine myopic children regularly to monitor the speed of progression.
What to expect in myopia management? Myopia management involves long-term evaluation, treatment, and consistent monitoring of the condition.