Myopia Treatment in Singapore: What Works for Children vs Adults?
TL;DR:
Singapore has 80–90% myopia prevalence. For children, treatment focuses on slowing progression via myopia control lenses, ortho-k, atropine eyedrops and outdoor time. For adults, myopia is managed with glasses, contact lenses, LASIK or implantable contact lens surgery for stable vision.
Singapore has been acknowledged as the myopia capital of the world, and fairly so, with 80 to 90% prevalence of myopia. However, this epidemic is occurring globally, with a projection of half the world being myopic by 2050.
So what is myopia? Myopia, more commonly known as short-sightedness, is one of the 4 refractive errors of the eye (others being hyperopia, astigmatism and presbyopia). Myopia occurs when light entering the eye falls in front of the retina due to a longer eyeball or a highly curved cornea (transparent surface at the front of the eye). Images far away will be blurry, while those that are near will be clear. Myopia is most commonly corrected using glasses and contact lenses. For those looking for a more permanent and convenient solution, LASIK and implantable contact lens surgery are popular choices.
Also Read: How is Astigmatism Different from Myopia?
Management of Myopia for Children and Adults Varies
Myopia Treatment for Children in Singapore
For children, the main goal is to prevent the rapid progression of myopia. While they are still in their growing stage, it is important for both eyes to perceive clear, equal and single images on their retinas so that their eyes can develop equally to prevent amblyopia (lazy eye) – unequal vision in both eyes.
Myopia Treatment for Adults in Singapore
For adults, it is a completely different goal. Since their prescription is stable, it is more so of aiming to provide convenience in their day-to-day lifestyles, and also to manage any existing high myopia to prevent other eye conditions that may occur, such as early onset of cataract, glaucoma and retinal tears and/or detachments.
There are several common options in Singapore to manage myopia:
Glasses
This is the most widely and easily available option that people will gravitate to. The majority of the lenses prescribed are single vision lenses. However, with advancements these days, there are myopia control lenses which use a peripheral myopic defocus to slow the progression of myopia.
Contact Lenses
The next most widely available option is contact lenses, either soft or hard. Soft lenses are more commonly dispensed due to the malleability of the lenses and easier maintenance. This is of more importance when it comes to dispensing contact lenses to a child, where hygiene is of utmost importance to avoid the complications of improper lens wearing.
Another type of contact lens, which has been gaining popularity, is the orthokeratology (ortho-k) lens. It is a hard lens that is worn overnight and gently shapes the cornea flatter to provide clear vision upon waking, allowing the child to go about their day without the use of optical aids to see clearly.
Atropine Eyedrops
The last option is the use of atropine eyedrops, which can only be prescribed by an ophthalmologist after he/she assesses the potential benefits and suitability for the child.
Lifestyle Changes to Manage Myopia in Singapore
There are several lifestyle changes which help to slow the progression of myopia. Firstly, you should spend more time outdoors. Studies have shown that those who spend more time outdoors have a slower myopia progression than those who spend less or no time outdoors.
The second change is taking more breaks between work. Many of us are easily carried away working on screens for hours and not taking any visual breaks. Follow the 20-20-20 rule whenever possible – after 20 minutes of near work, take a visual break for 20 seconds to look at far objects at least 20 feet away. The third change we can actively take is to have a healthy balance of work and play – encourage children to go outdoors after completing their school work.
For children whose myopia is progressing at a fast pace, many parents would seek professional help from an eye specialist in Singapore.
Also Read: Lifestyle Implications of Myopia
What takes place during a myopia consultation with the eye specialist in Singapore?
It starts off with history taking – establishing when myopia first sets in and how fast it is progressing, lifestyle habits and if there is a strong family history of myopia. After which, a manifest refraction (first prescription check) will be done as a baseline measurement. Following that, cycloplegic eyedrops will be instilled to relax the eye muscles and also to dilate the pupils. Once fully dilated and eye muscles relaxed, a cyclo-refraction (second prescription check) will be done to assess the most accurate prescription of the eye. This step is done as children tend to have more active eye muscles that can overcompensate and mask the actual power they have.
In addition to the prescription checks, the eye specialist may order an axial length measurement for baseline monitoring as well. Axial length measurement essentially measures the length of the eyeball from the front to the back. During the consultation, the eye specialist in Singapore will assess the external and internal health of the eye. They will take into account all the eye test results and advise if using glasses is sufficient or, in addition, the child also needs to start the use of atropine eye drops for myopia control.
Before starting on myopia control treatment in Singapore, below are some questions you can check with the eye specialist:
- What are the expected follow-up intervals, and how will progression be monitored?
- What are the possible side effects?
- What is the adaptation period?
- Are there other treatment options if the current option does not work as effectively as intended?
Schedule a myopia eye check in Singapore
If you or your child is concerned about progressing myopia, please contact Eye Max Centre at +65 6694 1000 or manager@eyemax.sg to schedule an appointment to see our eye specialist in Singapore for myopia treatment.
