Ashleigh Sprouse, OD, of Roswell Eye Clinic in Roswell, Georgia, believes that the earlier optometrists can intervene in a young patient’s vision problems, the better. “I have children as young as 4 years old who I start in NaturalVue® Enhanced Multifocal 1 Day contact lenses. We are seeing younger and younger children develop myopia because of lifestyle changes, screen usage in school and added leisure screen time,” she says.
The practice actively educates patients on myopia management. On its website page dedicated to myopia, there are colorful charts and graphs that show the risk factors for myopia progression, such as spending less time outside and more time on close vision tasks. It also details the increased risk for developing cataracts or glaucoma and retinal detachment with higher degrees of myopia.
Myopia is expected to increase, with a worldwide estimate that the myopic population could double by 2050.1
“I use all three methods of myopia management: atropine therapy, orthokeratology and soft contact lenses. I discuss the options with patients and parents based on candidacy and will make a strong recommendation for one treatment vs. others based on lifestyle factors,” she says.
She considers multiple factors, such as recommending a therapy that families can commit to fully. “Daily disposable soft contact lenses are extremely convenient and take a lot of burden off the parents regarding lens hygiene and care. I appreciate that these children are getting a fresh lens daily.” Daily disposable lenses also have a minimal incidence of infection, so they are very safe2.
EASY START
Dr. Sprouse says that working with NaturalVue Multifocal 1 Day contact lenses has been a great option. “These lenses are easy to fit, following the fitting guide. Adding a click of minus to get the light rays focused to the fovea typically provides patients with great vision on the first lens selection,” she says.
That’s important because practices and families are busy. Asking families to return for multiple visits for a fitting is inconvenient for everyone, plus it can erode a parent’s confidence. “Minimizing fitting visits provides additional peace of mind for the parents, especially those of first-time wearers.”
Another aspect of the lens design that she appreciates is that it can manage astigmatism. “With myopia management, my goal is not always to achieve a pristine 20/20 acuity. I want to make sure that students can see the board at school and that they have great functional acuity while slowing myopic progression. I have several -2.75 D cylinder patients who thrive in their NaturalVue Multifocal contact lenses,” she says.
Because the lenses allow the accommodative system to work less hard, many tell her that they experience less visual fatigue during the day.
STAY WITH WHAT WORKS
New, preliminary data from the ongoing Visioneering Technologies, Inc. (VTI) PROTECT randomized, controlled clinical trial released in May show that 58% of patients wearing NaturalVue Multifocal had axial growth similar to age-matched emmetropic children. The study also showed that 45% of patients had no myopic progression change, and about two-thirds of them experienced no meaningful progression of myopia (or -0.25 D or less of progression per year). Read other findings from the report here.
That’s why Dr. Sprouse is in no hurry to transition patients to a different lens. “From a research perspective, there isn’t a set guideline for when to stop myopia management interventions. I don’t see a reason to stop wearing the NaturalVue Multifocal lens, if patients are having good, comfortable vision,” she says.
As a result, she typically does not move them out of this lens. “They will be very happy presbyopes in their 40s,” she says. While she has moved some patients with high levels of astigmatism to a toric lens eventually, it’s not uncommon for them to return to NaturalVue Multifocal lenses, she says.
She and the other doctors at Roswell Eye Clinic who specialize in myopia management are aligned with the idea that myopia is a disease that can be managed. With a complement of therapies to select from, they have every reason to educate families on the risks of uncontrolled myopia progression.
With NaturalVue Multifocal 1 Day contact lenses, they have a safe and effective way to provide clear vision and manage myopia in their young patients.
References
- Holden, B.A., et al. (2016) Global Prevalence of Myopia and High Myopia and Temporal Trends from 2000 through 2050. Ophthalmology, 123(5): 1036-1042
- : Chalmers RL, Hickson-Curran SB, Keay L, Gleason WJ, Albright R. Rates of adverse events with hydrogel and silicone hydrogel daily disposable lenses in a large post-market surveillance registry: the TEMPO registry. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2015;56:654–663. DOI:10.1167/ iovs.14-15582
Dr. Sprouse was compensated for her time in preparing this article.
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See other stories about ODs working with NaturalVue lenses here.
