By Carmen Abesamis-Dichoso / OD, MAT; FIACLE, FPCO, FAAO
The prevalence of myopia, or nearsightedness, has dramatically increased in the past 10 years, this is according to the Global Prevalence of Myopia and High Myopia and Temporal Trends from 2000 to 2050.
In Asia it has reached an alarming rate, wherein some countries like Singapore, China, Taiwan and Hong Kong had to intervene by encouraging children to engage more in outdoor activities than concentrating or spending time in gadgets, computers, tables and cellphones.
The late Prof. Brien Holden of the Brien Holden Vision Institue during the BCLA Britishness Contact Lens Association conference held in Liverpool , United Kingdom, in June 2015, reiterated that it has been an established and evidence-based fact that nearsightedness exceeding 4.00 (-4.00) can cause early cataract, glaucoma, and, worst, maculopathy.
In the Philippines there is no well-established data on the exact prevalence of the condition. When I started my practice in 1990, I used to see only one child with nearsightedness per week, and now for the last 10 years, at least two kids a day were sent by either the teacher or brought by their parents for an eye examination because they are not performing well in school or frequently complain of headaches or blurry vision.
Because of this rising health concern, optometrists, vision scientists and ophthalmologists gather for the International Myopia Congress (IMC) held every two to three years in different parts of the world to discuss their perpetual work on the investigation of the latest trends in myopia control and treatment, incidences, prevalence, longitudinal studies and factors causing the condition.
According to several studies, our DNA, lifestyle, ethnicity and use of handheld gadgets are some of the causative factors of myopia .
According to the Refractive Error, Axial Length, and Relative Peripheral Refractive Error Before and After the Onset of Myopia, since a myopic eye is a long eye, there is a tendency of the back of the eye—the retina—to get stretched, exposed to pressure, and may, therefore, lead to glaucoma.
Clinical studies suggest that children with a moderate to high amount of nearsightedness (-6 00 up) are advised by their optometrists and ophthalmologists to be very careful in engaging into sports that may increase their chances of head concussion, as this may lead to retinal detachment. Regular comprehensive eye exam to look at the retina is vital.
On the occasion of the 68th National Convention of the Optometric Association of the Philippines to be held on April 30, May 1 and 2 at Conrad Manila, Mall of Asia, Pasay City, under the leadership of Dr. Christopher O. Buniel, renowned world vision expert Prof. Lyndon Jones, director of the Cornea and Contact Lens Research Unit of the School of Optometry at the University of Waterloo, in Ontario, Canada, will discuss the latest in contact lens as a method of correcting nearsightedness and how to diagnose and treat the condition.
Prof. Pauline Cho, deputy director of the Contact Lens Education and Research (CLEAR) Unit of the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, will review the different modalities of myopia control . She will also discuss about Contact Lens Compliance. Prof. Byoung Sun Chu from the Daejeon Health Science College, Korea will discuss “Vision and Driving.”
Other topics include “The Power of Social Media”; Jay Jaboneta will share how the Yellow Boat of Hope Foundation came to be through Social Media.Ms. Katherine Letargo, meanwhile, will speak about “Patient Centric Communication”; Former vice president of Globe Customer Service Reuben Pangan will talk about Business Essentials on Today’s Market Place.
Then, the International Association of Contact Lens Educators (IACLE)re will host a forum on May 2. Prof Cheni Lee will give an Update on IACLE. Jones and Chu will update the members on the latest in research undertakings from their respective institutions.
This year’s conference chairman is Dr. Jehan Zaragoza-Echavez; Vice President -Dr. Melina A.Perez; secretary—Dr. Douren Espina; and treasurer—Dr. Rodel Lagman.
The Optical Trade Fair will be on April 30, and chaired by immediate past president Dr. Giovanni Almachar.
A hands-on workshop on “There’s More than Meets the Eye” will allow delegates to use Pachymetry, Topography, Slit Lamp Volk Lenses, Non-contact Tonometers (Icare) and Panoptic Ophthalmoscope, and latest designs of retinoscopes.
Major Gold Sponsor for the Conference is Alcon Philippines. Silver Sponsors are Essilor Laboratories Philippines, Maria Teresa Commercial. Ruby and sponsors are Bausch and Lomb, G&B Laboratories Saphire. Amethyst sponsors are Hoya, Hongkong, CP Optics, Optimate, George Eyewear,
Interested optometrists optometry students, ophthalmologists, ophthalmology residents may register through e-mail at natconoap@gmail.com or through PayPal at oap.com.ph.