Let’s make it simple for us, patients, and parents

They don’t have to be confusing, yet myopia phrases can be. The reason: Many of the phrases used in the field of myopia, including “myopia correction,” “myopia control,” “myopia treatment,” and “myopia management” are often used interchangeably.

To make the topic of myopia simple for us, patients, and their parents, here I discuss the subtle differences among these terms.

MYOPIA CORRECTION

Myopia correction is the optical correction of the myopic refractive error by conventional spectacles, soft or rigid contact lenses, or surgical procedures, such as photorefractive keratectomy or LASIK.

The primary objective of myopia correction is to provide clear distance vision for a nearsighted patient with minimal focus on whether the corrections have any impact on the progression of myopia.

MYOPIA CONTROL

Myopia control is the service offered by optometrists that aims to slow the progression of myopia to minimize the risk of related complications, such as myopic maculopathy, glaucoma, or retinal detachment, that may eventually lead to irreversible vision loss.

Doctors practicing evidence-based myopia control utilize a series of novel optical devices, such as orthokeratology lenses, daytime multifocal contact lenses, specially designed glasses, or pharmaceutical agents, such as topical atropine eyedrops, to inhibit the excessive growth of the ocular structure.

MYOPIA TREATMENT

Myopia treatment can be a misleading phrase that is sometimes used interchangeably with the phrase myopia control. However, its Chinese translation usually refers to the permanent correction of myopia via refractive surgeries.

It’s important to note, however, that despite the permanent removal of myopic refractive error via surgery, ocular complication risk is not reduced. This is because the fundamental cause of myopia complications is the axial elongation associated with the myopia development; hence, the excessive stretching of the scleral wall, which is not eliminated by refractive surgeries.

MYOPIA MANAGEMENT

Myopia management involves all aspects of eye and vision care for myopic patients, including the myopia risk assessment, the prevention, the early detection, the proper correction, the timely control, as well as the management of related complications (see Figure 1).

Although the phrase is frequently used interchangeably with the phrase myopia control, the concept of myopia management is much more comprehensive, given that the condition tends to have an early onset and most often accompanies the patient’s entire life.

KEEPING IT STRAIGHT

Although “myopia control” serves as the core component of the full spectrum of “myopia management,” the care for myopic patients does not stop once the progression has stabilized. Instead, the continuous follow-up care and the close monitoring of any subtle changes on the refraction, the axial length, as well as the ocular health should be carried out throughout the whole life cycle for the patients. OM