Myopia Control

Myopia, commonly known as shortsightedness, is a growing global concern where distant objects appear blurry. This occurs when the eye is either too long or its focusing power is too strong, causing light to focus in front of the retina rather than directly on it.

Myopia is on the rise worldwide. Today, approximately 30% of Australians are myopic, and by 2050, nearly 50% of the global population is projected to be affected.¹

While glasses and contact lenses correct blurry vision, they don’t address the underlying eye growth that increases the risk of permanent eye diseases like glaucoma, retinal detachment, and macular degeneration.² ³

Expert Myopia Control in Adelaide & Henley Beach

At Innovative Eye Care, our optometrists offer a personalised range of myopia treatment options to help slow its progression. We focus on early intervention, especially in children, to reduce long-term eye health risks.

👉  Book an Appointment with our friendly team.

What Causes Myopia?

In a myopic eye, light focuses in front of the retina, leading to blurred distance vision. Myopia often starts in childhood (around age 8) and worsens as the child grows. Early onset increases the risk of developing high myopia, which carries greater vision loss risks.⁴ ⁵

Shockingly, 30% of people develop myopia after the age of 17, highlighting the need for continued eye monitoring.¹

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The Hidden Dangers of Myopia – Even Low Levels Matter

Myopia is now categorised into two main types:

• Low to moderate myopia: up to -6.00D
• High myopia: greater than -6.00D

As myopia progresses, the eye elongates and the retinal tissue stretches, significantly increasing the risk of serious conditions:

• Retinal detachment
• Glaucoma
• Cataracts
• Myopic macular degeneration

When axial length (eye length) exceeds 26.5mm, the risk of irreversible damage skyrockets.³ In fact, 1 in 4 people with eye lengths over 26mm may face permanent vision loss, compared to 1 in 25 below that threshold.¹

Even with mild myopia, the glaucoma risk is comparable to that of a heavy smoker developing a stroke.⁴ Early treatment reduces both disease risk and dependency on thick glasses.

Myopia Risk Factors in Children

Children with one or both parents who are myopic are more likely to become short-sighted themselves. However, environmental factors also play a significant role:⁷

• Excessive screen time or prolonged close-up work
• Lack of outdoor activity (less than 2 hours/day)
• Early onset of myopia
• Binocular vision disorders

Encouraging regular outdoor play and limiting device use can lower the risk of myopia onset and progression.

How Is Myopia Controlled?

Standard glasses and contact lenses do not slow eye growth. Effective myopia control treatments aim to reduce the rate of axial elongation.

At Innovative Eye Care, we offer:

• Customised myopia management plans
• Evidence-based treatments tailored to age, lifestyle, and prescription

Basic lifestyle changes also play a role: at least 2 hours of outdoor time daily and limiting near work to 45-minute intervals.

Myopia Control Treatment Options

1. Orthokeratology (Ortho-K)

• Custom overnight lenses reshape the cornea while you sleep
• Offers clear vision during the day without glasses or contacts
• Proven to reduce myopia progression by an average of **50%**⁸ ⁹

2. Atropine Eye Drops

• Low-dose drops used nightly
• Relaxes eye muscles and slows eye growth
• Side effects are rare and reversible⁵ ¹⁰ ¹¹

3. Multifocal Contact Lenses

• Encourage proper light focus at multiple distances
• Reduces eye growth by about **40%**¹⁰
• Slightly less effective than Ortho-K

4. DIMS Spectacle Lenses (e.g. Hoya MiyoSmart)

• Uses special lens segments to reduce axial growth
• Slows myopia by **up to 60%**¹²
• A non-invasive option for children

How Do We Track Progress?

Unlike regular optometry clinics, we go beyond checking prescription changes. Our advanced diagnostics include:

• Ocular Biometry: Measures axial length growth with micron precision
• Corneal Topography: Maps the eye's surface for lens fitting
• Objective Refraction: Gives a more accurate refractive reading

Why Axial Length Matters:

Axial length is the most reliable indicator of myopia progression and disease risk. Comparing your child’s axial length to normal growth charts helps identify high-risk cases early. Rather than rely on subjective refraction alone, these methods combined give us the complete picture; we know exactly what components of the eye are contributing to myopia. We can then better tailor myopia control strategies for your child and closely monitor for any progression throughout.

👉 Book a Myopia Control Consultation or ‍ in Adelaide or Henley Beach.

References

1) Brien Holden Vision Institute & World Health Organisation. (2016). “The Impact of Myopia and High Myopia.” Report of the Joint World Health Organisation: Brien Holden Institute Global Scientific Meeting on Myopia.

2) Flitcroft, D. I. (2012). “The complex interactions of retinal, optical and environmental factors in myopia aetiology. ”Progress in Retinal and Eye Research31(6): 622-660.

3) Willem, J. et al. (2016) ‘Association of Axial Length with Risk of Uncorrectable Visual Impairment for Europeans with Myopia’. JAMA Ophthalmol. 134(12): 1355-1363.

4) Goldschmidt, E. Jacobsen, N. (2013).‘Genetic and environmental effects on myopia development and progression’. Cambridge Ophthalmological Symposium. 28(1): 126-133.

5) Flitcroft, D. I., et al. (2019).“IMI-Defining and Classifying Myopia: A Proposed Set of Standards for Clinical and Epidemiologic Studies.”InvestOphthalmolVis Sci.60(3)

6) Chen-Wei, P. Ramamurthy, D. Seang-Mei, S.(2011). ‘Worldwide prevalence and risk factors for myopia’. Opthalmic andPhysiological Optics. 32(1).

7) Gifford, K. et al. (2019). “IMI - Clinical Management Guidelines Report”. InvestOphthalVis Sci. 60(3)

8) Na, M. Yoo, A. (2018). “The effect oforthokeratology on axial length elongation in children with myopia: Contralateral comparison study”. Jpn J Ophthalmol. 62(3): 327-334.

9) Hiraoka, T. et al. (2012). “Long-termeffect of overnight orthokeratology on axial length elongation in childhood myopia: a 5-year follow-up study”. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 53(7): 3913-3919.

10) Wildsoet, C. et al. (2019). “IMI-Interventions for Controlling Myopia Onset and Progression Report”.InvestOphthalmolVis Sci. 60(3).

11) Bullimore, M. A, Richdale, K. (2020).“Myopia Control 2020: Where are we and where are we heading?” OphthalmicPhysiol Opt. 40(3): 254-270.

12) Lam, CSY, et al. “Defocus Incorporated Multiple Segments (DIMS) spectacle lenses slow myopia progression: a 2-yearrandomised clinical trial.” Br J Ophthalmol 104(3):363-368.

13) Cheng, D. et al. (2014). “Effect of bifocaland prismatic bifocal spectacles on myopia progression in children: three-year results of a randomised clinical trial” JAMA Ophthalmol. 132:258-293.