WesternU Eye Care Institute provides life-altering myopia progression management care

WesternU College of Optometry student Julliette Kestenian (left) conducts an eye exam on Annali Leos. (Jeff Malet, WesternU)

About two years ago, Anabel Leos noticed her daughter Annali's vision was worsening at an alarming rate - nearly doubling her prescription within 10 months. She received a referral to Western University of Health Sciences' Eye Care Institute in Pomona, California, where Annali, 12, was diagnosed with myopia and fitted with contact lenses.

"There was a big difference within the first year. Her prescription only progressed minimally," Anabel Leos said. "It's wonderful seeing her confidence in not having to wear thick glasses. She's smiling. It's a big plus, big for her self-esteem. I don't think she would be the same if we stayed with regular glasses."

Children may inherit myopia genetically, environmentally, or both. The Eye Care Institute provides myopia progression management, which is vital especially for children to prevent or reduce the risk of ocular diseases.

"If they develop it at young age, their risk of ocular disease increases greatly as an adult," said WesternU College of Optometry Chief of Cornea and Contact Lens and Assistant Professor Nolan Ng, OD. "If we can slow it down, we reduce their risk of ocular disease."

Diseases such as macular degeneration, maculopathy, and retinal detachment are conditions that may cause irreversible deterioration in vision, said College of Optometry Associate Professor Dorcas Tsang, OD, FAAO.

"That's why we're so concerned about it progressing really quickly," she said. "We weigh risk factors in coordination with the patients and their parents."

College of Optometry student Herlyn Macintosh Leiva (left) observes patient Phoebus Lu as he prepares to put on contact lenses. (Jeff Malet, WesternU)

There are four types of treatments for progressive myopia: glasses, medication, and two types of contact lenses - day wear and night wear, Tsang said. The majority of patients start with medication or contact lenses.

Atropine is an FDA-approved treatment for lazy eye, but low-dose atropine eye drops can be prescribed "off label" to treat myopia. Research has shown that if one parent is myopic, their child has three times as much risk for developing myopia. If both parents are myopic, their child has six times as much risk, Tsang said.

"Those four treatment options are comparable in effectiveness, so we discuss with the parent what fits their lifestyle more, what is their preferred way of doing it, combined with whether the progression may require more aggressive intervention," Tsang said.

WesternU staff member Yutong Li applies an eye drop to her daughter, Jessica Wu's, eye. (Jeff Malet, WesternU)

Yutong Li, who works in WesternU's Financial Services and Treasury Office, brought her daughter, Jessica Wu, 7, to the ECI about a year ago. Jessica was diagnosed with myopia and prescribed atropine. They apply a 0.05% atropine eyedrop to Jessica's right eye daily. Dr, Tsang noticed Jessica's left eye was responding well, so they lowered the dose to every other day.

"We really want to control this. So far everything looks good," Li said. "The professor makes adjustments based on the change and the patient's experience. It's important to protect your eyes."

It's important to get a child's eye checked in a comprehensive exam while also understanding their risk factors. Many students are going to school with increased use of technology. One recommendation is to lessen the amount of time using technology and have children spend more time outdoors, Ng said.

"Outdoor activity is shown to delay the onset of myopia, but it hasn't been shown to be effective in slowing progression," Tsang said. "If a child has not had myopia yet and we find they are at high risk, we advise them to increase outdoor activities as a way of delaying the onset of myopia."

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