Myopia Management

What to know about myopia

Myopia has typically been viewed as an inconvenience treated with simple glasses or contacts. We now know it's so much more. Myopia is a chronic, progressive disease, that can lead to blindness later in life.1-3

Girl with Helmet

Why does myopia matter?

Chronic & progressive disease1-3

Due to the excessive elongation of the eye, myopia can lead to increased risk of sight-threatening complications later in life.1-3The benefits of proactively treating myopia outweigh the risks of leaving children untreated. 

Myopia is a growing public health crisis4

By 2050, more than half of the world’s population is projected to be myopic.5Children in the first wave of high myopia prevalence (those born after 1970) are now on the cusp of experiencing sight-threatening complications as adults.6-8

All children should be monitored, and treated once diagnosed9

From an early age, measuring and monitoring both axial length and refractive error is highly recommended in all children.9 It is important not to “wait and see” for progression before starting treatment in children once they are diagnosed. 

3-D image of the eye structure

Every diopter of myopia increases risk of ocular disease10-11

No safe level of myopia

While high levels of myopia tend to increase the risk of sight-threatening complications later in adulthood, there is no safe level of myopia.1 

 

Every diopter matters. Even lower levels of myopia are associated with an increased risk of eye issues.10

 

For example, every additional diopter of myopia increases the risk of Myopic Macular Degeneration by 67%.10 

Degree of Myopia8

-0.50 to -3.00 D -3.00 to -6.00 D -6.00 D or more myopic

MMD

13.6

73

846

Retinal Detachment

3.2

8.8

12.6

Visual Impairment

0.9

1.7

5.5*

*Applies only to myopia of -6.00 to -10.00 D. Odds ratio are 7.8 for myopia of -10.00 to -15.00 D and 88 for myopia more than -15.00 D.

Decimal visual acuity of 0.30 to 0.05 (approx. 20/60 to 20/400).

Risk factors for myopia

Minimal time outdoors12

Less than 2 hours/day

Genetics14

Myopic parents, specific ethnicities

Near work13

Near work activities like reading and screen-time for longer duration or short working distance

Age of Onset2,15

Developing myopia at a younger age than 12

Likelihood of myopia progression or onset and recommended clinical action by age and refractive status16

REFRACTIVE STATUSPre-myopia* (≤ 12 yrs) Myopia (≤ 12 yrs) Myopia (13+ yrs)

PROBABILITY 

Myopia onset highly likely  

Progression highly likely  

Progression possible 

CLINICAL ACTION

Close monitoring

Myopia management highly recommended

Present myopia management

*Pre-myopia is defined as a refractive error of +0.75 D and > -0.50 D in a child when accommodation is relaxed20 

Lifestyle guidance is a suggested component.  

Treatment of pre-myopia is at the discretion of the parent/patient and clinician. 

Make a difference in your myopia patient's lives

You can make a difference in your myopia patients lives. There are treatments available to slow the progression of myopia as well as impactful lifestyle changes to help delay the onset or slow the progression of your patient’s myopia, including: 

More time outdoors17

Reducing near work18

Taking breaks from near work19,20

Explore the Abiliti Brand

The Abiliti Family of products for myopia control features innovative products that can be customized to your patients’ lifestyle

Abiliti Overnight product shot

Abiliti Overnight

Orthokeratology lens custom-made for patients to slow the progression of myopia while sleeping*21-24

Abiliti™ 1-Day product shot

Abiliti 1-Day

Breakthrough soft contact lens designed just for kids to slow the progression of myopia during the day.25

Tap into myopia management resources

Abiliti Eye Diagram - Not to Scale

Clinical resources

Young patient getting an eye exam

Practice management resources

Image of Eye Anatomy

Patient education resources

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References

*Compared to single-vision spectacles 

 

1. Flitcroft DI. The complex interactions of retinal, optical and environmental factors in myopia aetiology. Prog Retin Eye Res. 2012;31(6):622-660. 

2. Donovan L, Sankaridurg P, Ho A et al Myopia progression rates in urban children wearing single-vision spectacles. OVS 2012;89(1):27-32. 

3. Pärssinen O, Kauppinen M. Risk factors for high myopia: a 22-year follow-up study from childhood to adulthood. Acta Ophthalmologica. 

2019;97(5):510-518. 

4. Holy C, Kulkarni K, Brennan NA. Predicting Costs and Disability from the Myopia Epidemic – A Worldwide Economic and Social Model. Investigative 

ophthalmology & visual science. 2019;60(9):5466-5466. 

5. Holden BA Fricke TR Wilson DA Jong M Naidoo K et al Global Prevalence of Myopia and High Myopia and Temporal Trends from 2000 to 2050. Ophthalmol 2016,123(5):1036-1042 

6. Morgan IG, French AN, Ashby RS, et al. The epidemics of myopia: Aetiology and prevention. Prog Retin Eye Res. 2018 Jan;62:134-149. 

7. Sensaki S, Sabanayagam C, Verkicharla PK, Awodele A, Tan KH, Chia A, Saw SM. An Ecologic Study of Trends in the Prevalence of Myopia in Chinese Adults in Singapore Born from the 1920s to 1980s. Ann Acad Med Singap. 2017 Jun;46(6):229-236. 

8. Haarman AEG, Enthoven CA, Tideman JWL, et al. The Complications of Myopia: A Review and Meta-Analysis. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2020 Apr 9;61(4):49. 

9. American Optometric Association Comprehensive Pediatric Eye and Vision Examination Evidence-Based Clinical Practice Guidelines. 2017. 

10. Bullimore MA, Brennan NA. Myopia Control: Why Each Diopter Matters. Optom Vis Sci 2019;96:463-5. 

11. Bullimore MA, Ritchey ER, Shah S, et al. The Risks and Benefits of Myopia Control. Ophthalmology 2021;128:1561-79. 

12. Wu PC, Chen CT, Chang LC, Niu YZ, Chen ML, Liao LL, Rose K, Morgan IG. Increased Time Outdoors Is Followed by Reversal of the Long-Term Trend to Reduced Visual Acuity in Taiwan Primary School Students. Ophthalmology. 2020 Nov;127(11):1462-1469. doi: 10.1016/j.ophtha.2020.01.054. 

13. Huang HM, Chang DS, Wu PC. The Association between Near Work Activities and Myopia in Children-A Systematic Review and Meta- Analysis. PLoS One. 2015 Oct 20;10(10):e0140419. 

14. Tedja MS, Haarman AEG, Mees ter- Smoor MA, Kaprio J, Mackey DA, Guggenheim JA, Hammond CJ, Verhoeven VJM, Klaver CCW; CREAM Consortium. IMI - Myopia Genetics Report. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2019 Feb 28;60(3):M89- M105 

15. Chua SY, Sabanayagam C, Cheung YB, et al. Age of onset of myopia predicts risk of high myopia in later childhood in myopic Singapore children. Ophthalmic Physiol Opt. 2016; 36:388-94. 

16. Zadnik K et al. Prediction of Juvenile Onset Myopia. JAMA Opthalmol 2015;133:683-9. 

17. Wu PC, Chen CT, Lin KK, et al. Myopia Prevention and Outdoor Light Intensity in a School- Based Cluster Randomized Trial. Ophthalmology 

2018;125:1239-50. 

18. Huang PC, Hsiao YC, Tsai CY, Tsai DC, Chen CW, Hsu CC, Huang SC, Lin MH, Liou YM. Protective behaviours of near work and time outdoors in myopia prevalence and progression in myopic children: a 2-year prospective population study. Br J Ophthalmol. 2020 Jul;104(7):956-961. 

19. Johnson & Johnson Vision. Schedule an Eye Exam: Tips to Prioritize Your Eyes At Home. https://www.jjvision.com/prioritizeyoureyes

20. He M, Xiang F, Zeng Y, et al. Effect of time spent outdoors at school on the development of myopia among children in China a randomized clinical trial. JAMA - Journal of the American Medical Association. 2015;314(11):1142-1148. 

21. Data on File 2023. Menicon Design History fi le 

22. Cho P, Cheung SW. Retardation of myopia in Orthokeratology (ROMIO) study: a 2-year randomized clinical trial. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci [Internet]. 2012/09/13. 2012;53(11):7077–85. 

23. Santodomingo- Rubido J, Villa-Collar C, Gilmartin B, Gutiérrez-Ortega R. Myopia control with orthokeratology contact lenses in Spain: Refractive and biometric changes. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2012;53(8). 

24. Chen C, Cheung SW, Cho P. Myopia control using toric orthokeratology (TO-SEE study). Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci [Internet]. 2013/09/05. 2013;54(10):6510–7. 

25. JJV Data on File 2021. Development of Optical Design of ACUVUE® Abiliti 1-Day Soft Therapeutic Lenses for Myopia Management. 

Important safety information:
ACUVUE® AbilitiTM Overnight Therapeutic (tisilfocon A) Contact Lenses are indicated for use in the control of myopia. They are indicated for overnight wear for the temporary reduction of myopia and should only be disinfected using a chemical disinfection system. As with any contact lens, eye problems, including corneal ulcers, can develop. Some wearers may experience mild irritation, itching or discomfort. These lenses should not be prescribed if patients have any eye infection, or experience eye discomfort, excessive tearing, vision changes, redness, other eye problems, or if patients have any allergy to any ingredient in a solution which is to be used to care for these lenses. Complete information is also available from Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, Inc. by calling 1-877-334-3937, option 4, or by visiting www.seeyourabiliti.com

Important Safety information:
Acuvue® AbilitiTM 1- Day Soft Therapeutic Lenses for Myopia Management are available by prescription only for the correction of myopia (while the lenses are worn) and may slow the progression of myopia in children (7-12 years old). As with any contact lens, eye problems, including corneal ulcers, can develop. Some wearers may experience mild irritation, itching or discomfort. These lenses should not be prescribed if patients have any eye infection, or experience eye discomfort, excessive tearing, vision changes, redness, other eye problems. Due to the intended optical design of these lenses for the purpose of reducing the patient’s prescription change, these lenses will provide vision correction while worn, but the vision quality may not be as clear as with conventional soft contact lenses. Patients should exercise extra care if performing potentially hazardous, vision demanding activities. Complete information is also available from Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, Inc. by calling 1-877-334-3937, option 4, or

Visit www.seeyourabiliti.com

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