There is a new weapon in the war on myopia and we are thrilled to be adding it our arsenal as we continue to fight hard against this growing epidemic and keep our children seeing better for longer.
Myopia, widely referred to as short-sightedness, is one of the leading causes of avoidable vision loss. Nationally, one in five teenagers are short-sighted – double the number affected 50 years ago – and experts have warned this figure is likely to grow significantly in the next 30 years.
Myopia can increase the risk of several eye conditions such as retinal detachment or myopic maculopathy that could eventually result in visual impairment or even blindness. It’s a big deal, and it’s our mission to do something about it.
We have continually invested in technology to allow us to best measure and manage myopia in our patients and we are delighted to be in possession of the new Oculus Myopia Master.
We are the first practice in England to have this pioneering device available to our patients. Combining the vital measurement parameters used to gauge myopia and software for making myopia management easier and more reliable than ever, it will make a real difference to the way we tackle the issue of short-sightedness among our patients.
The Myopia Master redefines myopia management. It changes the way we think about short-sightedness, shifting the emphasis from refraction to axial length.
What does that mean in simple terms? Well, previously we used to gauge the extent of a patient’s myopia by looking at their prescription (eg -3.5, -5 etc) but now we are giving more emphasis to the size (axial length) of the eye.
A typical eye measures 24mm. If that figure is higher in a child, for example 26mm or 28mm, it suggests they are likely to be myopic.
Using the extensive data at our disposal, we can then plot the likely progression of the myopia – giving an accurate indication of the severity of short-sightedness at multiple intervals up to the age of 18.
As well as having bigger eyes, high myopes often have flatter corneas. The keratometric reading provided by the Myopia Master can highlight a flatter than average cornea – providing us with another indicator that early intervention is needed to slow the progression of myopia in a patient.
This allows us to discuss the various intervention pathways available to the patient, including specialist contact lenses or new spectacle lenses designed specifically for myopia. Ask any of us the practice about this tailored management programme on your next visit.
It’s a revolutionary piece of kit that we are excited to have in our Diagnostic Suite. We’re looking forward to showing it off at your next eye examination! Book in today.
