Introducing a New Treatment to Slow Childhood Myopia - Red Light Therapy

A new treatment option in the myopia control space at Bay Eye Care is the Myproclear Red Light device.

In New Zealand myopia affects approximately ~30% of young people. It is increasing at a concerning rate in all developing countries. It is predicted that by 2050, 5 billion people will be short-sighted which accounts for 50% of the world's population. All levels of myopia (short-sightedness) lead to an increase in the eyes axial length. In addition, the chance of developing blinding conditions such as retinal detachment, cataracts, glaucoma and myopia retinal degeneration increase. A person with a higher degree of myopia has a higher chance of developing these sight threatening conditions.

The Myproclear red light therapy device, taken home to use by children each day.

A new treatment option to control the progression of myopia in children is Red Light Therapy, provided by the Myproclear Red Light device, designed by Eyerising International, based in Melbourne, Australia.

Myproclear Red Light Therapy is a non-invasive, quick and easy to use home myopia control treatment for children involving children looking into the red light the machine emits, for just three minutes of treatment time twice per day. The low-level single wavelength red light gently stimulates blood flow in the back of the eye to help slow the axial growth of the eye and control myopia progression. Research suggests Myproclear Red Light Therapy results in approximately 75% reduction in axial elongation compared to children wearing standard single vision spectacles over a two year period. In patients that showed a high compliance to the treatment schedule a 87% reduction in axial elongation was found.

It is a great myopia control option for the following young patients:

• children who cannot tolerate contact lens wear or eye drops.

• children already wearing Orthokeratology contact lenses or myopia control spectacles but require further myopia control measures.

• Those wanting to explore adjunct (combination) therapy if they have aggressive myopia progression when first assessed.

Bay Eye Care has a myopia control option to suit every patient’s lifestyle and clinical needs. Please book in for a myopia control assessment today to discuss with our optometrists which option will work best for you and your child, to slow their myopia progression to keep their eyes as healthy as they can be for the rest of their life!

Healthy Eyes are Beautiful Eyes - Cosmetic Considerations in Eye Health

Beauty is timeless, but unfortunately, eye cosmetics and skincare products are not. In many cases, placing cosmetic products on and around the surface of the eye is part of an individual's daily routine. Unfortunately, when these products are not used with care and attention they can negatively impact the comfort of our eyes and cause eye infections, allergic reactions and even injuries.

A few simple tips for keeping your eyes clear, comfortable and beautiful are:

• Replace

  It is important to remember that all cosmetic products have a shelf life. It is easy to lose track of how long your favourite product has been open. An older product has more potential for bacteria and fungus to build up and then be transferred to the eye. A good replacement schedule is replacing mascara every 1-3 months, liquid eye makeup every 3 months and powders every 6-9 months.

• Keep it Clean

  It is essential to keep any object that comes close to the eye clean and absent of bacteria and other irritants. Ensure you clean your hands thoroughly before applying cosmetic products. Ensure make-up brushes and other tools are routinely cleaned and never moisten with saliva or water. In addition, ensure that cosmetic products and utensils are never shared.

• Location, Location, Location.

  Location plays a significant role in the harmony between cosmetics and the ocular surface. It is vital to avoid “tight-lining”, which is applying makeup to the waterline (the inner rim of the eyelids). It blocks the glands of the eye which produce a component of the tear film. It is strongly linked to signs and symptoms of dry eye.

• Formulations

  Cosmetic products come in many shapes, sizes and formulations, some of which can impact your eye health. For example loose eyeshadow can end up in the eye, it is helpful to choose cream over powders. Glitters and sparkles can further stir up the eye and the tear film. Finally, the use of primer can lead to a more stable makeup application. A few ingredients to look out for and avoid are:

  Benzalkonium Chloride (BAK), Phenoxyethanol, Chlorphenesin, Sodium Lauryl Sulphate , Formaldehyde and Formaldehyde Donors (eg. Quaternium 15), Prostaglandin Analogues (e.g. Isopropyl Cloprostenate), Isopropyl or denatured Alcohol, Fragrances, Argiriline (acetyyl hexapeptinde-3 or Acetyl hexapeptide-8), Retinoids, Salicylic Acid, Parabens, Phenoxyethanol

Finally, remember, if you wear contact lenses, put these in before you apply make-up and take them out before taking your make-up off. If you use drops as part of dry eye management, put these in 15-30 minutes before doing your makeup.

Bay Eye Care has state of the art technology to diagnose and treat dry eye, blepharitis and ocular surface conditions. Please get in touch with us to book an appointment.

By Aidan Quinlan. Thanks to Cornea and Contact Lens Society of NZ for some of the content of this blog.