Page 76 - The Indian Optician Digital Edition May-June 2023
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attention to during follow-up examinations of a precise in detecting small changes in myopia
child receiving myopia management? than axial length assessment. For example, I've
found that parents are frustrated when their
Dr. Ankit: During follow-up exams, my 8-year-old child progresses by -0.50 in a year
main concern depends on the type of myopia or their axial length grows by 0.15mm, despite
treatment, and patient adherence is crucial for the fact that both of these measures indicate a
its effectiveness. Non-compliance can lead to good outcome at that age. Both measurements
severe consequences, therefore, assessing the are crucial indicators of higher eye disease risk
patient's history of tolerance and adherence and require context and explanation to properly
is important. For assessing clinical results, understand.
subjective and cycloplegic refraction and axial
length measurements are used. Finally, effective TIO: What does management as a
communication with patients and parents component of the standard of care for myopia
is necessary for encouraging intervention management suggest to you? How do you put
compliance and explaining outcomes. that into practice?
TIO: Do you include spherical equivalent as Dr. Ankit: Myopia management involves
well as axial elongation when evaluating myopia more than refractive error correction. It
management success? begins with educating parents on myopia's
developmental growth and its short- and long-
Dr. Ankit: The most important part of the term impact, followed by advice on the visual
eye exam for young myopic patients is giving environment, such as increasing outdoor time
them the right refraction to correct, maintain, and limiting screen time, and finally, choosing
and preserve their eyesight. Although parents the best optical intervention for the child to
and patients understand refraction well, it is less correct and slow myopia growth.
72 | THE INDIAN OPTICIAN | MAY-JUNE 2023 INTERVIEW
