Adopting flexibility in prescribing myopia management interventions through the journey of treatment was the subject of a main stage lecture at 100% Optical (1–3 March).
Optometrists Elizabeth Lumb, director of global professional affairs for myopia management at CooperVision, and Katie Harrop, senior manager for global professional education at the contact lens manufacturer, delivered a lecture titled: Return of the myope.
“We are allowing children to choose their own adventure”
Optometrists, Elizabeth Lumb and Katie Harrop, explained how myopia management provides young people with freedom in their lifestyle and choice of career
The presentation centred around a hypothetical seven-year-old, ‘Dan,’ with myopia, and followed his journey in both a single vision correction and a myopia control correction.
At key milestones, the speakers looked at the ways ‘Dan’s’ life might have been different depending on whether he had continued to progress without treatment, compared to what may have happened if he had a treatment option.
Speaking to OT about the presentation, Lumb shared: “The first key message is that if you are looking at a newly-diagnosed myope, there is no sense in waiting to treat. You have to have those conversations.”
This is emphasised in guidance from the professional bodies, she noted.
The responsibility for discussing myopia management should not rest with the optometrist alone, however, with Lumb sharing: “I think this is one of those situations where the entire practice team can play a significant part.”
The dispensing optician may be able to recognise the moments when a child is not wearing their contact lenses or spectacles and make recommendations for next steps, while a contact lens optician will know what to find out from the patients to ensure they are wearing their lenses correctly, and if they are not, what the ‘plan B’ options could be.
“I think the flexibility to course-correct is the responsibility of the entire practice team. That key question of adherence to the treatment protocol is something we can all be involved in,” Lumb said.
Recognising that myopia management could be a commitment of more than 10 years for some patients, the presentation illustrated how the habits, lifestyles, motivations and levels of supervision of a patient may change in that time.
Lumb said: “There are moments and key milestones along that journey where parents, the eye care professionals, and the child themselves, may need to rethink their options to make sure they end up with the maximum myopia control potential.”
During the presentation, the audience voted for ‘Dan’ to be recommended a myopia controlling spectacle intervention.
Lumb explained that this was expected and reflects survey data, but noted that spectacle wearers “don’t necessarily find it easy to wear their glasses in the way they are intended.”
“We’re expecting a myopia control treatment to be worn full-time, all-day, every-day from the moment those children wake up to the moment they go to bed, which is quite difficult in spectacle wear,” she said.
Lumb added: “Some children also may not like wearing their glasses, but when they are young, they might wear them more compliantly than when they are older and might push the boundaries a little bit.”
Lumb said: “It is those moments we’d like ECPs to try and tease out to challenge and interrogate when those parents and families come back on follow-up visits.”
Comments (0)
You must be logged in to join the discussion. Log in