Is working distance a myopia risk in children?

CPD
1
2 August 2024
Summer 2024

Becky McCall analyses the evidence that working distance increases the risk of myopia in children, and the escalation of time spent on screens is related to the surging incidence of myopia around the world.

Domains covered

Communication Clinical practice

In the UK, the proportion of teenagers with myopia has doubled over the past 50 years (McCullough et al, 2016). Globally, almost one-third of individuals currently have myopia, with a projected rise in high myopia (–5.00 dioptres or more)(Holden et al, 2016). 

While genetics takes hundreds of years and numerous generations to change, the rapid rise of myopia strongly suggests that environmental and lifestyle factors, for example time spent outdoors, are at play (Tedja et al, 2019). With mixed opinion and evidence, what advice and action should optometrists take to manage myopia as well as limit associated pathologies in later life?

“Children are born hyperopic and become emmetropic through a process that regulates axial eye growth to match the eye’s focal length with its focal power. Myopia occurs when the eye fails to maintain its emmetropic state and is not a failure of the emmetropisation process,” explains Sayantan Biswas, an optometrist and myopia researcher at Aston University. He adds that the earlier the onset of myopia, the higher the risk for high myopia and associated sight-threatening conditions later in life: “Delaying the onset of myopia may delay or prevent pathological myopia.”

Sign in to continue

Forgotten password?
Register

Not already a member of the College?

Start enjoying the benefits of College membership today. Take a look at what the College can offer you and view our membership categories and rates.

Related further reading

This online peer review session is open to College members and will cover your GOC peer review requirement.

In this live webinar, Ms Nishani Amerasinghe, a Consultant Ophthalmic Surgeon, will give an overview of PAC, PACG and PACS.

One thing is certain: I wasn’t expecting the events of the last 10 weeks to take place when I wrote my last Optometry in Practice editorial in February this year.