TY - JOUR
T1 - Global trends in myopia management attitudes and strategies in clinical practice
AU - Wolffsohn, James S.
AU - Calossi, Antonio
AU - Wong, Hie Hua
AU - Gifford, Kate
AU - Jones, Lyndon
AU - Li, Ming
AU - Lipener, Cesar
AU - Logan, Nicola S.
AU - Malet, Florence
AU - Matos, Sofia
AU - Meijome, Jose Manuel Gonzalez
AU - Nichols, Jason J.
AU - Orr, Janis B.
AU - Santodomingo-Rubido, Jacinto
AU - Schaefer, Tania
AU - Thite, Nilesh
AU - van der Worp, Eef
AU - Zvirgzdina, Madara
PY - 2016/4/1
Y1 - 2016/4/1
N2 - Purpose: Myopia is a global public health issue; however, no information exists as to how potential myopia retardation strategies are being adopted globally. Methods: A self-administrated, internet-based questionnaire was distributed in six languages, through professional bodies to eye care practitioners globally. The questions examined: awareness of increasing myopia prevalence, perceived efficacy and adoption of available strategies, and reasons for not adopting specific strategies. Results: Of the 971 respondents, concern was higher (median 9/10) in Asia than in any other continent (7/10, p < 0.001) and they considered themselves more active in implementing myopia control strategies (8/10) than Australasia and Europe (7/10), with North (4/10) and South America (5/10) being least proactive (p < 0.001). Orthokeratology was perceived to be the most effective method of myopia control, followed by increased time outdoors and pharmaceutical approaches, with under-correction and single vision spectacles felt to be the least effective (p < 0.05). Although significant intra-regional differences existed, overall most practitioners 67.5 (±37.8)% prescribed single vision spectacles or contact lenses as the primary mode of correction for myopic patients. The main justifications for their reluctance to prescribe alternatives to single vision refractive corrections were increased cost (35.6%), inadequate information (33.3%) and the unpredictability of outcomes (28.2%). Conclusions: Regardless of practitioners' awareness of the efficacy of myopia control techniques, the vast majority still prescribe single vision interventions to young myopes. In view of the increasing prevalence of myopia and existing evidence for interventions to slow myopia progression, clear guidelines for myopia management need to be established.
AB - Purpose: Myopia is a global public health issue; however, no information exists as to how potential myopia retardation strategies are being adopted globally. Methods: A self-administrated, internet-based questionnaire was distributed in six languages, through professional bodies to eye care practitioners globally. The questions examined: awareness of increasing myopia prevalence, perceived efficacy and adoption of available strategies, and reasons for not adopting specific strategies. Results: Of the 971 respondents, concern was higher (median 9/10) in Asia than in any other continent (7/10, p < 0.001) and they considered themselves more active in implementing myopia control strategies (8/10) than Australasia and Europe (7/10), with North (4/10) and South America (5/10) being least proactive (p < 0.001). Orthokeratology was perceived to be the most effective method of myopia control, followed by increased time outdoors and pharmaceutical approaches, with under-correction and single vision spectacles felt to be the least effective (p < 0.05). Although significant intra-regional differences existed, overall most practitioners 67.5 (±37.8)% prescribed single vision spectacles or contact lenses as the primary mode of correction for myopic patients. The main justifications for their reluctance to prescribe alternatives to single vision refractive corrections were increased cost (35.6%), inadequate information (33.3%) and the unpredictability of outcomes (28.2%). Conclusions: Regardless of practitioners' awareness of the efficacy of myopia control techniques, the vast majority still prescribe single vision interventions to young myopes. In view of the increasing prevalence of myopia and existing evidence for interventions to slow myopia progression, clear guidelines for myopia management need to be established.
KW - Attitudes
KW - Global
KW - Myopia control
KW - Myopia management
KW - Myopia progression
KW - Orthokeratology
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84959545372&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.clae.2016.02.005
DO - 10.1016/j.clae.2016.02.005
M3 - Journal article
C2 - 26895778
SN - 1367-0484
VL - 39
SP - 106
EP - 116
JO - Contact Lens and Anterior Eye
JF - Contact Lens and Anterior Eye
IS - 2
ER -