'Short-sightedness' or myopia is a common eye condition which makes things in the distance appear blurred. It usually begins in childhood and is the result of the eye growing beyond normal and becoming too long or the cornea and lens of the eye being too powerful so spectacles or contact lenses are needed to see clearly.

Understanding Axial Length in Myopia Management

More children are developing myopia and at a younger age than in previous generations and it is now predicted that by 2050 over half the world’s population will be myopic due to elongated eye length. This is due to a rise in indoor lifestyles and an increasing time spent on near activities. The younger the child develops myopia the more it progresses and the worse it becomes as the axial length increases until you stop growing (or beyond) much like height, feet etc.

One critical aspect of managing myopia is understanding and monitoring the axial length of the eye. In this blog, we'll delve into what axial length is, its importance in myopia management, and the strategies employed to control its progression.

What is Axial Length?

Axial length refers to the distance from the anterior surface of the cornea to the retina's inner surface. It is a key anatomical parameter in determining the refractive status of the eye. A longer axial length typically correlates with higher degrees of myopia.
Understanding and measuring this length is crucial for effective myopia management.
Studies show that high axial length and therefore myopia may lead to severe vision impairment that can no longer be corrected through standard lenses and increases the risk of serious eye conditions later in life. The bigger the eye the more likely the retina may detach, tear, leak etc.

The Importance of Axial Length in Myopia

Predicting Myopia Progression:

Axial length is a reliable indicator of myopia progression. Children with rapidly increasing axial lengths are at a higher risk of developing severe myopia, which can lead to various ocular complications such as retinal detachment, glaucoma, and myopic maculopathy.
Like in a child’s red book monitoring height and weight we now have centile charts which plot predicted growth of the eye and therefore future risk of complications.

Tailoring Treatment Plans:

By regularly monitoring axial length, optometrists and dispensing opticians can tailor myopia management strategies to individual patients. This personalized approach helps in implementing timely interventions to slow down myopia progression.

Methods to Measure Axial Length
Optical Biometry:

Optical biometry, uses light waves to measure axial length. It is non-contact, quick, and highly accurate, making it the preferred method in clinical practice today. We have biometry units now in all of our practices to offer this hospital grade level of service to best assess relevance for myopia therapy.

Strategies for Managing Myopia through Axial Length Control at Colin Lee and Jenks Opticians.

Specialist Spectacle lenses:

Normal spectacle lenses only focus a clear image onto the centre of the retina. Specialist myopia management lenses maintain a clear image across the whole retina by having a centre for distance viewing surrounded by hundreds of tiny lenslets which also keep the image clear on the outer part of the retina.
Having the whole image in focus across the retina has been shown to remove the driver for excessive eye growth.

Only a registered optician can supply these lenses to children. Cosmetically the lenses appear normal and accurate fitting will ensure the child is always looking through the correct part of the lens. These lenses have been shown to slow myopia progression by over 60% but they are not currently funded by the NHS.

Specialist Contact Lenses:

These lenses have different zones for central and peripheral retina much like the spectacle lens. They help in reducing the rate of axial length elongation by altering the peripheral defocus on the retina.

Orthokeratology (Ortho-K):

Ortho-K involves wearing specially designed contact lenses overnight to reshape the cornea temporarily. This method has been shown to slow down axial length elongation in children.

Lifestyle Modifications:

Encouraging outdoor activities and reducing near work can have a positive impact on myopia management. Natural light exposure is beneficial in slowing down axial length growth as its releases a growth inhibitor.

Monitoring and Follow-Up

Regular follow-up appointments are crucial in myopia management. During these visits, axial length measurements are taken to assess the effectiveness of the implemented strategies. Adjustments to the treatment plan can be made based on the progression data.

Managing myopia effectively requires a comprehensive understanding of axial length and its role in myopia progression. By employing various strategies and regularly monitoring axial length, eye care professionals can significantly reduce the risk of severe myopia and its associated complications.

We offer these treatments as part of our VeyeP myopia eyecare plan.
For a monthly fee we can track myopia progression most accurately by measuring the length of the eye (axial length), aswell as regular check ups to monitor change. The plan includes all spectacle lenses or contact lenses and a large selection of frames aswell as insurance against any loss, damage, scratches and changes in prescription all covered without additional charge, all for one manageable monthly fee.