The impact of the first peak of the COVID-19 pandemic on childhood myopia control practice patterns among ophthalmologists-an international pediatric ophthalmology and strabismus council global perspective.

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of myopia keeps increasing during the COVID-19 pandemic. We aimed to map the worldwide treatment preferences of ophthalmologists managing myopia control during the first wave of the pandemic. METHODS: An online questionnaire inquiring about pharmacological and optical treatment patterns during the first half of 2020 was sent to pediatric ophthalmology as well as general ophthalmology memberships worldwide. The results among pediatric ophthalmologists were compared to a previous study we performed before the pandemic. RESULTS: A total of 2269 respondents from 94 countries were included. Most respondents were pediatric ophthalmologists (64.6%), followed by ophthalmologists from other subspecialties (32.3%). The preferred modality for all geographical regions was a combination therapy of pharmacological and optical treatments. When evaluated independently, the pharmacological treatment was more popular than the optical treatment in most regions other than East Asia (P < 0.001). Compared to a pre-pandemic questionnaire, the participation of pediatric ophthalmologists affiliated with non-university hospitals increased. Additionally, the prevalence of respondents utilizing either any type of pharmacological treatment and those that using only evidence-based treatments increased globally. Although a decline in the use of optical treatment was evident worldwide, the use of evidence-based optical treatments increased. CONCLUSION: Ophthalmologists around the world preferred a combination therapy of pharmacological and optical treatments. More pediatric ophthalmologists treated myopia progression and preferred a better evidence-based approach to control myopia. These trends reflect a positive response and more awareness of the rising prevalence of myopia due to the increased burden of myopia imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Current trends among pediatric ophthalmologists to decrease myopia progression-an international perspective.

PURPOSE: To explore what the current worldwide preferred practice patterns of pediatric ophthalmologists are to decrease myopia progression among their patients. METHODS: A questionnaire was sent to all members of supranational and national pediatric ophthalmology and strabismus societies. RESULTS: The questionnaire was fully completed by most respondents 90.10% (847 of 940 responses). Fifty-seven percent (457) routinely treat to decrease myopia progression. The most common parameter to initiate treatment was a myopic increase of 1 diopter/year or more (74.8%, 246). Seventy percent (345) prescribed eye drops. Atropine 0.01% was the most popular (63.4%, 277) followed by atropine 1% (10.9%, 48) and atropine 0.5% (8.9%, 39). Eighty-six percent (394) of the respondents advised to spend more time outdoors, to reduce the amount of time viewing screens (60.2%, 277), and cutback the use of smart phones (63.9%, 294). CONCLUSIONS: Most pediatric ophthalmologists treat to decrease myopia. They employ a wide variety of means to decrease myopia progression. Atropine 0.01% is the most popular and safe modality used similarly to recent reports. However, there is no consensus when treatment should be initiated. Further prospective studies are needed to elucidate the best timing to start treatment and the applicability of recent studies in the Asian population to other ethnic groups. This will improve the ability to update pediatric ophthalmologist with evidenced-based treatment options to counter the myopia epidemic.

Correction to: Current trends among pediatric ophthalmologists to decrease myopia progression-an international perspective.

The published online version contains a mistake in the capturing of figures.

Practice patterns to decrease myopia progression differ among paediatric ophthalmologists around the world.

INTRODUCTION: Myopia is a worldwide epidemic. Plethora of treatments are offered to decrease myopia progression. In this study, we compared between different geographical areas worldwide the practice patterns used by paediatric ophthalmologists to decrease the progression of myopia. METHODS: Global responses to a questionnaire were analysed (n=794) for demographic variations. Pharmacological, optical and behavioural categories were defined as effective or ineffective based on the current scientific peer reviewed literature. RESULTS: Treatment rates varied significantly between geographical regions (mean 57%, range 39%-89%, p<0.001). Nearly all participants who treat myopia used at least one form of effective treatment, regardless of location (98%, p=0.16). Among those prescribing pharmacological treatments, European physicians offered the lowest rate of effective treatment compared with other regions (85% vs mean 97%). Rates of effective optical treatment varied significantly between locations (p<0.001), from 16% (Central-South America) to 56% (Far East). Most treating respondents advocated behavioural modifications (92%), between 87% (North America) and 100% (Central Asia). Nearly all respondents used combinations of treatment modalities (95%)-mostly pharmacological, optical and behavioural combination. However, combination rates varied significantly between regions (p<0.001). DISCUSSION: The utility of treatment to decrease myopia progression differs significantly across the world both in type, combination and efficacy. CONCLUSION: Paediatric ophthalmologists involvement and proficiency in myopia progression treatment varies around the world. This may entail promoting continuous medical education and other incentives to increase the number and proficiency of paediatric ophthalmologist to have a more effective impact to control the myopia epidemic in children.

Interventions to Reduce Myopia Progression in Children.

Efforts to reduce the progression of myopia in childhood are on the rise, due to an increasing incidence of myopia worldwide and its associated sight-threatening complications. Interventions are aimed at reducing myopia in childhood and include environmental considerations, spectacles, contact lenses, and pharmacological agents. We reviewed recent literature with interventions aimed at reducing myopia progression in children and found that a number of interventions were significant in reducing the progression of myopia. Of these interventions, atropine showed the largest dose-related effect on myopia progression control. Although higher doses are associated with side effects of pupil dilatation, loss of accommodation, near vision blur, and rebound phenomenon, low-dose atropine has also been shown to provide effective myopia control with minimal side effects and rebound. To a lesser degree, bifocal soft contact lenses have also been shown to be effective in reducing the progression of myopia, though compliance is an issue. Similarly, orthokeratology lenses have also been shown to be effective in reducing axial length elongation and myopia progression, though long-term data on its rebound effects are unavailable.

Steroid-induced ocular hypertension in Asian children with severe vernal keratoconjunctivitis.

BACKGROUND: We describe clinical characteristics and risk factors for corticosteroid response in children with severe vernal keratoconjunctivitis (VKC). DESIGN: Retrospective, noncontrolled, comparative case series. PARTICIPANTS: Patients from three tertiary centers in Singapore. METHODS: We reviewed patients with severe VKC (clinical grade > 2) who were on topical steroid therapy, with a minimum follow-up period of 1 year post-presentation. Logistic regression was used to determine risk factors for corticosteroid response. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Corticosteroid response was defined as intraocular pressure (IOP) >21 mmHg (three consecutive readings), or a rise of more than 16 mmHg from baseline, after commencement of steroid therapy in the absence of other possible causes of raised IOP. RESULTS: Forty-one of 145 (28.3%) patients developed a corticosteroid response, of which eight (5.5%) progressed to glaucoma. The overall mean age of onset of VKC was 9.9 ± 4.4 years. Longer duration of corticosteroid use (OR, 5.06; 95% CI: 1.04-25.56; P = 0.45) and topical dexamethasone 0.01% (OR, 2.25; 95% CI: 1.99-5.08; P = 0.40) were associated with corticosteroid response. Mixed type of VKC (OR, 9.76; 95% CI: 3.55-26.77; P < 0.001), the presence of limbal neovascularization of ≥ three quadrants (OR, 6.33; 95% CI: 2.36-16.97; P < 0.001), and corneal involvement (OR, 3.51; 95% CI: 1.31-9.41; P = 0.012) were significant clinical risk factors after adjusting for potential confounders such as age, sex, ethnicity, duration, and type of corticosteroid used. CONCLUSION: Children on long-term oral corticosteroids with severe, mixed-type VKC and corneal involvement are more likely to develop corticosteroid response, and may require early treatment to prevent progression to glaucoma.

Fusion exercises for treatment of intermittent exotropia and phoria.

INTRODUCTION: Fusion exercises have been used in the management of intermittent exotropia (X(T)) for over one hundred years. The opinions regarding their efficacy are controversial. PATIENTS AND METHOD: Dynamics of binocular status were investigated retrospectively in ninety-six patients with X(T). Forty-eight subjects had specific orthoptic treatment (treatment group). Forty-eight had no orthoptic treatment (control group). Both groups were matched for age, sex, and race. The orthoptic treatment consisted of a cat stereogram, home-based fusion exercises, which patients were asked to perform twice daily. RESULTS: The treatment group showed significant enhancement of binocular function, particularly control of strabismus and stereoacuity for distance. The control group showed further deterioration of binocular functions. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest patients with X(T) objectively improve their binocular function after fusion exercises.

A physiologic reduced oxygen protocol decreases the incidence of threshold retinopathy of prematurity.

PURPOSE: To report the incidence of threshold retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) in very low birth weight premature infants from three neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) before and after implementation of a physiologic reduced oxygen protocol (PROP). METHODS: PROSPECTIVE, OBSERVATIONAL STUDY OF DATA FROM THREE NICUS: Cedars-Sinai Medical Center (CSMC), Los Angeles; Good Samaritan Hospital (GSH), Los Angeles; and National University Hospital (NUH), Singapore. PROP was implemented to keep oxygen saturation values by pulse oximeter (SpO2) between 83% and 93% (as described in Pediatrics 2003;111:339-345). The incidence of threshold ROP in the year before and the year after implementation of PROP was compared. Data from the transition year were not included in the analysis. RESULTS: THE INCIDENCE OF THRESHOLD ROP DECREASED IN EACH CENTER: CSMC, 3.3% to 0.0% (3/92 to 0/88); GSH, 14.8% to 4.9% (8/54 to 2/41); and NUH, 6.7% to 0.0% (3/45 to 0/30). Overall, the incidence of threshold ROP decreased from 7.3% to 1.3%. (P <.05). The 95% confidence interval was 4.3% to 12% for the pre-PROP group and 0.05% to 4.76% for the post-PROP group. CONCLUSIONS: Physiologic hypoxia is the normal fetal state. Exposure of newborn premature infants to hyperoxia down-regulates retinal vascular endothelial growth factor. This arrests the normal retinal vascular migration and causes vaso-obliteration, the first phase of ROP. The hypothesis is that maintaining SpO2 values between 83% and 93% in the immediate postgestation life, combined with strict control of oxygen fluctuations, prevents the early vaso-obliterative phase and subsequent development of severe ROP. Significant reduction of threshold disease after implementation of PROP in all three centers supports the hypothesis.