the Myopia Epidemic

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Myopia

Myopia, 'short-sightedness' or 'near-sightedness', causes people to have difficulty seeing distant objects clearly. Caused by the gradual elongation of the eyeball, myopia affects more than a billion people around the world. 

Dangers of Myopia

Blurry vision and stronger glasses with thicker lenses is the least of our worries. We now know progressive myopia increases the risks of serious eye conditions, which may lead to permanent blindness.

Clinical research tells us that myopia leads to a significant increase in the risk of certain eye diseases like retinal detachment, cataracts, glaucoma and myopic macular degeneration, which can all lead to blindness. 

Until recently, researchers believed that only severely myopic patients are at risk. Recent studies confirms an increase in the risk of eye diseases from any amount of myopia. 

Patients with up to -3.00D of myopia has 3x the risk, up to -6.00D has 5x the risk and over -9.00D has 7-9x the risk of these myopia diseases.

Regular glasses and contact lenses can help us see clearer, but they don’t address the underlying danger: an elongated eyeball that is structurally weakened.

Check out the myths & facts 

below at 

The International Myopia Institute

Prevalence, Key Findings, Future Epidemic, Impact for

Patients and Doctors 

Myopia affects many school-aged children and is fast becoming a major public health issue of our time. It is estimated about 2 billion people worldwide are myopic.

It will grow to a staggering 2.6 billion by 2020 and 4.8 billion by 2050. 

It is estimated that half the world’s population will be myopic by 2050. 

The prevalence of myopia is about 

42 percent in the United States, and 

up to 82 percent or higher 

in the Asian population, 

especially in China. 

The incidence of myopia are increasing. 

From 1994, in a span of twenty years, myopia prevalence in the United States had grown 

from 22 to 42 % of the population. 

In Honk Kong and mainland China, 

it grew from 42 to 82 %. 

In October, 2016, 

the World Health Organization (WHO) 

released the report 

"The Impact of Myopia and High Myopia" 

to address the public health issue of myopia, the classification of myopia, evidence for treatments, and the need to take action.

The scientific evidence 

continues to show that 

myopic eyes of any prescription 

are more vulnerable to sight-threatening complications and diseases 

which could affect your child as they age.

  
Leading researchers now believe there is 

no safe amount of myopia, 

no matter how small.

Check out the Infographic at:  

The International Myopia Institute

with an Advisory Board of International doctors.

Advancing myopia research and education, 

to prevent future blindness. 

As parents, it is alarming to see our child’s myopia progressing every year, especially for those of us who are highly myopic.  

We remember the inconvenience and the negative social aspect of having glasses. Now we also worry about the increased risk of myopic eye disease.

Other than genetics, many studies now point to environmental and behavioral factors such as increased screen time and reduced outdoor activities contributing to the myopia epidemic.

But now there is something we can do about myopia progression.  

Something you can do about your child’s worsening vision beyond getting stronger and stronger glasses every year. 

Clinical studies prove that it is possible to slow down significantly the progression of myopia in children, giving them better vision for life. 

Instead of just “correcting” their myopia

 with thicker glasses, 

our AOK Eye Braces & Myopia Control Program focus on actually 

treating the myopia progression.

Our Myopia Control Clinic utilize many different  methods of myopia management depending on the needs and risk of progression of the patient.

Ask us on how we can make a difference 

for your child.

My Kid's Vision is a free online tool that helps parents assess and manage myopia risks 

for their kids.