09/17/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 09/17/2024 07:15
Onset and Progression of Myopia
According to the report, important gaps in knowledge exist as to the impact of "near work" (such as reading, with the eyes focused on objects close to the face), both with and without electronic devices, on myopic eye growth. While evidence supports aspects of the "visual diet" affecting eye growth, like the light spectra and contrast of different sources, important details are lacking. Animal models and other scientific research have provided some insights, but more research is needed. Researchers and developers of diagnostic technologies should design improved patient tests to better understand the myopic eye, its development, and the effects of the visual diet.
Identifying Children with Myopia and Access to Treatment
Multiple socioeconomic barriers exist for children's vision care, such as uneven awareness of the importance of checking children's eye health, difficulties gaining access to an eye care professional, and barriers to compliance with prescribed treatments. The report includes recommendations that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, in collaboration with state departments of education, take measures to ensure that children receive a vision screening before first grade and a comprehensive eye exam when needed. Moreover, an integrated, national data surveillance system is needed for collecting data on vision screening, referrals to eye care providers, demographics (age, race, sex, geographic location), and outcomes of referrals. This data system would enhance care integration and enable monitoring to ensure that follow-up care is received, especially in high-risk populations.
Increasing Standard Data Collection
2024
Myopia, commonly called nearsightedness, has been increasing globally. If current trends continue, there will be 5 billion near-sighted individuals globally by 2050. The understanding of myopia has been enhanced by advances in genetics, investigations employing animal models, understanding of physiology, ocular imaging, epidemiology, environmental research, and clinical trials of interventional strategies. To further develop the knowledge base related to myopia and to reduce the incidence and negative consequences of the disease, eye care professionals, federal agencies, and funding agencies need to make improvements to standardize care, increase funding to study treatments, encourage outdoor time, and overall facilitate the standardization of assessments and diagnostics. Progress in these areas is imperative to address the current increase in myopia across the country.
Myopia: Causes, Prevention, and Treatment of an Increasingly Common Disease identifies and assesses the current mechanistic understanding of myopia pathogenesis and the causes of its increased prevalence. This report also examines knowledge gaps and barriers to progress and develops a research agenda aimed at better understanding the biological and environmental factors that could explain the increasing incidence of myopia.
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