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“The beginning is the most important part of the work” – Plato
Recently a colleague and I were discussing his two children and their probable refractive futures, both he and his
wife were moderately myopic from a young age, writes dispensing optician Andrew Price. It would be surprising if a myopic drift were not to be seen in at least one of his children. Our conversation was prompted by my recent Internet research on the subject of myopia control, and specifically the spectacle and contact lenses clinical trials being conducted in China and Australia. The hypothesis is that by controlling the peripheral refraction and image placement relative to the peripheral retina the stimulus to myopia is reduced.
I am aware that some UK practices have already started to list patients who may be interested (or interested for their children) to learn in advance about the technology and its application being available here.
This new application gives us all food for thought, will I/my practice be ready for: the interest from the general public; clinical time; how would we set our fees; how will we discuss the clinical trial results with patients; will we maintain ethics in not over-selling to parents understandably concerned about their children's visual future.
Initial reports from the trials seem to be very interesting and now is the time to commence the thought process. It could also offer us an opportunity to treat patients and obtain a better outcome over a period of time than if we simply prescribe an ocular/medical device that reflects their current refractive state.
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