Three optometry practices in Hamilton on New Zealand’s North Island are working together to launch a myopia awareness campaign for local schools and general practitioners. If successful, the program may be rolled out across the country.
Rose Optometrists, Visique Rototuna, and Total Vision Optometrists hope the program will drive education about prevention and management of the global myopia epidemic’s effects on New Zealand children.
The awareness campaign, supported by The Cornea and Contact Lens Society of New Zealand (CCLSNZ) and the NZ Myopia Action Group, offers free myopia information sessions to local families.
The prevalence of myopia around the world is growing at an alarming rate and poses a serious public health risk in many countries.1
Research shows that 69% of New Zealand parents do not know what myopia is and worryingly only 10% of NZ parents know of the lifestyle factors that can have an impact on child myopia (low levels of outdoor activity, low levels of light exposure, prolonged near tasks such as reading and gaming on portable devices).2 The majority of myopia progression typically occurs between the ages of 6-173 as this is a key growth time for children, and their eyes.
Jagrut Lallu from Rose Optometrists said the three practices will host an educational seminar open to all teachers, as well as an educational meeting open to all GPs, in the Hamilton area.
“We are keen to talk to teachers about what can be implemented at a school level and in the classroom environment to help reduce the risk of students developing myopia, such as myopia breaks. We also see local GPs as key partners to assist us in promoting public health awareness about myopia to the families that come into their surgeries, and where needed to encourage them to seek advice from their local optometrist.”
To support this initiative the three local practices will also provide free myopia information sessions for local families, to discuss the risk and progression of myopia using the latest predictive calculators.
Staggeringly 40% of New Zealand children have not been to an optometrist to have an eye examination before their ninth birthday.4
Mr Lallu concludes, “Our primary aim is to talk to teachers and GPs about raising awareness of myopia and by doing so to encourage parents to visit their local optometrist to discuss the issue, have their child/childrens’ eyes examined and if indicated, undertake a myopia management plan. Slowing the progression of myopia is critical.”
To find out more, contact Jagrut Lallu: [email protected].
[Reference]
- Rudnicka A; Kapetanakis V; Wathern A; Logan N; Gilmartin B; Whincup P; Cook D; Owen C. Global variations and time trends in the prevalence of childhood myopia, a systematic review and quantitative meta- analysis: implications for aetiology and early prevention. British Journal of Ophthalmology. Volume 100, Issue 7. Page 2 https://bjo.bmj.com/ content/100/7/882.
- CooperVision Australia and New Zealand: Child Myopia in New Zealand – consumer perceptions survey. Conducted by YouGovGalaxy August/September 2018, conducted by YouGovGalaxy between Wednesday 29 August and Monday 3 September 2018. The sample comprised 500 parents of children at home aged 0-18 years.
- Morgan P. Is Myopia Control the Next Contact Lens Revolution? The Optician 2016.
