Myopia is also known as short-sightedness. While many people may associate it with being a mere inconvenience that can be fixed with glasses, the reality is far more concerning. People with myopia, particularly children with early onset myopia, are at risk of developing high myopia, which can lead to serious eye diseases that could ultimately cause blindness.
By 2050 over 50 per cent of the world’s population is expected to suffer from myopia. It is rapidly becoming one of the world’s leading causes of vision impairment, with the fastest rise occurring in young children. Globally, experts are seeing a surge in myopia, exacerbated by COVID-19 lockdowns, which saw children remaining inside and learning through screens.
At the Lions Eye Institute, we are actively researching how to curb this epidemic. Professor David Mackey AO, Dr Jessica Mountford and Dr Samantha Lee are all doing vital research in this area.
Finding new treatments for children like Angus
Angus (middle) pictured with Dad – Juan, sister – Ciara and Mum – Saskia (L-R)
When Angus was a toddler, his parents Saskia and Juan noticed that he seemed to fall over a lot and always had bruises on his head. His grandmother also pointed out that he would hold books and toys close to his face. Due to his young age, the family was referred to see Dr Antony Clark, ophthalmologist at the Lions Eye Institute, for a vision assessment. Dr Clark diagnosed Angus with early onset myopia and devised a treatment plan, which included wearing a tiny pair of glasses, daily atropine drops and regular visits.
Angus’s parents can’t imagine a future where his eyesight will get in the way of his dreams of becoming a policeman, firefighter or famous cricket player when he grows up. “When we first found out Angus had myopia, I felt so scared how things could look for him further down the track,” says Juan. “But when you reflect on what previous research has already achieved, it makes you realise just how important it is for progress and what is possible for the future.”
Channel 7 Telethon Trust and Wen Giving are critical to our myopia research efforts
Professor David Mackey AO, Dr Samantha Lee and Dr Gareth Lingham are working together on creating standard eye growth charts for Western Australian children to better predict those at greater risk of myopia and allow for early intervention. They are recruiting participants from the Raine Study to further this work.
Having established Western Australia’s first zebrafish ocular disease research group, Dr Jessica Mountford is leading a groundbreaking study into myopia. The study aims to improve methods to identify children at risk of developing early onset myopia and develop effective treatment and prevention plans. Dr Mountford said, “Zebrafish are powerful tools for learning more about myopia as their development is rapid, their eyes are large and by five days old their retina is very comparable to a human retina.” Her team is exploring what happens to the structure and function of the eye in developing zebrafish when genes (from human myopia association studies) are not working.
Professor Angus Turner and the Lions Outback Vision team have launched a new paediatric eye screening service to remote areas of the Pilbara, identifying children at risk of vision impairment, especially myopia. The program involves collaboration between our paediatric screening team, our visiting optometrists and coordinated pathways to ophthalmology if required.
These projects wouldn’t be possible without the generous support of the Channel 7 Telethon Trust, Wen Giving and the Western Australian community.
