From the Guidelines
Increasing awareness of myopia and its control among rural populations requires a multi-faceted approach combining education, accessible screening, and sustainable interventions, with a focus on community-based education programs, mobile eye care units, and training local community health workers, as supported by recent studies 1.
Key Recommendations
- Community-based education programs should be implemented through schools, local health centers, and community gatherings to explain myopia in simple terms, its symptoms, and the importance of early detection and treatment.
- Mobile eye care units can provide periodic screenings in remote areas, identifying children and adults with myopia who might otherwise go undiagnosed.
- Training local community health workers to perform basic vision screenings using Snellen charts can create sustainable screening systems.
- Visual aids like posters and pamphlets in local languages with simple illustrations can effectively communicate information about myopia to populations with varying literacy levels.
- School-based programs are particularly effective, as teachers can be trained to identify children who might have vision problems and refer them for proper assessment.
Myopia Control Options
- Low-dose atropine eye drops (typically 0.01% concentration used daily) have been shown to be effective in reducing myopia progression, as supported by a network meta-analysis 1.
- Specialized contact lenses, such as multifocal soft lenses, have also been found to slow myopia progression in children, as demonstrated by a randomized clinical trial 1.
- Orthokeratology has emerged as a potential method for controlling myopia, with reduction of peripheral hyperopic defocus as the likely mechanism, although more research is needed to confirm its effectiveness 1.
- Increased outdoor time (at least 2 hours daily) for children has been correlated with a reduced myopia shift over a 3-year follow-up period, highlighting the importance of lifestyle modifications in myopia control 1.
Implementation and Barriers
- Barriers to eye care extend beyond inadequate screening and diagnosis, and may include inadequate information, lack of access to care, limited financial means, and insurance coverage and/or reimbursement issues, as noted in a recent study 1.
- Partnering with school nurses and other community leaders can help ensure follow-up care for minority and low-income children, addressing disparities in eye care services 1.
- Legislative efforts to mandate vision screening for children and provide funding mechanisms to support such programs can help close the gap in eye care services, as advocated by leaders in the field 1.
From the Research
Increasing Awareness of Myopia and its Control among Rural Population
To increase awareness of myopia and its control among rural populations, several strategies can be employed:
- Health education and awareness campaigns about the importance and benefits of seeking eye care early 2
- Provision of community-based eye care programs 2
- Increasing access to eye care facilities in rural areas 2
- Educating practitioners about the efficacy of myopia control techniques and establishing clear guidelines for myopia management 3
- Promoting orthokeratology and other effective treatments for myopia control, such as atropine therapy 4, 5
Key Factors Influencing Utilization of Eye Care Services
The following factors are associated with increased likelihood of utilization of eye care services:
- Age ≥ 70 years 2
- Literacy 2
- Residence close to an eye care facility 2
- History of ocular symptoms 2
- Blindness 2
- Being diabetic or hypertensive 2
Myopia Control Strategies
Effective myopia control strategies include:
- Orthokeratology 4, 5
- Low-level laser therapy (LLLT) 4
- Atropine therapy 5
- Increased time outdoors 3
- Pharmaceutical approaches 3
Challenges and Limitations
Despite the availability of effective myopia control strategies, several challenges and limitations exist, including: