How aware are parents of myopia?

Paper title: Parental awareness of the implications of myopia and strategies to control its progression: A survey-based study

Authors: Ortiz-Peregrina, Sonia (1), Solano-Molina, Salvador (1),(2), Martino, Francesco (1), Castro-Torres, José J (1), Jiménez, José R (1)

1. Department of Optics, Laboratory of Vision Sciences and Applications, University of Granada, Granada, Spain.
2. Centro Nazaríes Especialistas, Granada, Spain.

 Date: Sep 2023

Reference: Ortiz-Peregrina S, Solano-Molina S, Martino F, Castro-Torres JJ, Jiménez JR. Parental awareness of the implications of myopia and strategies to control its progression: A survey-based study. Ophthalmic Physiol Opt. 2023 Sep;43(5):1145-1159

[Link to open access paper]

The global prevalence and consequences of myopia are now a significant public health issue. As a response, management and control strategies have been developed to mitigate the risk of myopia related ocular health issues later in life. In 2019, a study found that although a number of Spanish optometrists were aware of the risks of high myopia and the need to limit myopia progression, they expressed concerns over costs, potential results and lack of information as reasons for not recommending interventions.¹ The consequence of this may be that information on myopia and control strategies may not be reaching parents who are ideally placed to implement preventative steps.

This study investigated parental knowledge and concerns regarding myopia. An online questionnaire invited parents of children aged 6-16yrs (already myopic or with a family history of myopia) to answer questions on demographic and visual data, their awareness and knowledge of myopia and of myopia control therapies available. Of 330 responses, 321 were included for analysis.

The results found that 67% of parents had children with myopia between -1.00 and -1.75D and the same number were concerned about their child’s myopic progression, believing it due to genetics (91.3%) and devices use (85%), with some able to name potential ocular complications. Over half of respondents were unaware high myopia carried risks to future eye health. There was a significant negative correlation found between the parental awareness of ocular health risks and the level of concern. Nearly 40% of parents were unaware that myopia control therapies were available. Of the parents aware of therapies, nearly 30% had knowledge of soft contact lenses but 47% would opt for peripheral defocus spectacles.

Over half of parents reported their child spent time outdoors at least 3 times per week and parents who reported longer times outside also felt their child’s myopia was slower in progressing. However, over a third of children also spent more than 6hrs a day on near activities.

This study also found that although most parents were concerned about their child’s myopic progression, the main source of information for most was an eyecare practitioner or relatives. This highlights the responsibility of eyecare practitioners to raise awareness of myopia, to involve parents and patients in controlling myopia progression and to educate on the control therapies available

Parents responding to a similar study in Hong Kong were found to be more familiar with myopia control options, particularly orthokeratology, and were more likely to choose an option based on greater awareness and their personal familiarity with it.²

The increased prevalence of myopia and high myopia in East Asian countries may explain the difference in attitude. It would be interesting to track parental attitudes across countries with varying prevalence rates and over time to assess the efficacy of eye health awareness campaigns.

Title: Parental awareness of the implications of myopia and strategies to control its progression: A survey-based study

Authors: Ortiz-Peregrina, Sonia, Solano-Molina, Salvador, Martino, Francesco, Castro-Torres, José J, Jiménez, José R

Purpose: Myopia has emerged as a significant public health concern. Effective methods have now been developed to delay its onset and progression. However, this information may not be reaching parents, and they are key players in terms of implementing the necessary preventive measures. This study investigated parental awareness of myopia, its implications and the strategies available for controlling it.

Methods: A self-administered online survey was distributed to parents of children 6–16 years of age. To be eligible to respond, their child had to be myopic or at risk of developing myopia due to family history.

Results: A total of 330 parents completed the survey, of which 321 were included for analysis. Sixty-seven percent of respondents had at least one myopic son/daughter, and most were between −1.00 and −1.75 D. Among parents of myopic children, 20.9% thought that their child's myopia progressed moderately. Sixty-seven percent of parents had a significant level of concern about the progression of the myopia and felt that it was caused mainly by the use of electronic devices and genetics. A generalised linear model showed that parental concern was significantly predicted by the perception of evolution (p < 0.001) and the number of known health-related consequences (p < 0.001). Almost 40% of parents were unaware of the existence of myopia control strategies. Relatives and eye care practitioners are the main sources of information. The most well-known myopia control strategy was myopia control soft contact lenses (29.2%), although the option that most parents would opt for was spectacles with peripheral defocus lenses (47.1%). The selection of a contact-lens-based myopia control method correlated significantly with the age of the children (p < 0.001).

Conclusions: Society in general and parents in particular need more information about myopia, its consequences and the options available for its control. Eye care practitioners play an important role in this issue.

[Link to open access paper]