A European study suggests that early, active management of myopia in children could significantly reduce the lifetime financial and health burden associated with the condition.

The study, published in the American Journal of Ophthalmology,1 assessed projected lifetime costs of myopia using economic models that compared traditional myopia management – such as single-vision spectacles or contact lenses – with active myopia control strategies, including low-dose atropine, special anti-myopia spectacles, multifocal contact lenses, and orthokeratology.

“Each modeled scenario began with an eight-year-old child presenting with − 0.75DS. Natural progression data were used to determine the likelihood of possible refractive outcomes for children predicted to be at risk for faster and slower myopia progression until adulthood, followed by an assumed exponential decay to zero progression by age 25 years.

“Societal care costs (direct and indirect) were collected from published sources, key informants, and informal surveys. Predicted progression rates… were used to estimate and compare lifetime cost of myopia and its associated complications under each scenario. All future costs were discounted by 3% per year for sensitivity analysis. The main outcome measures were the lifetime cost of myopia, and cost ratio (myopia control cost divided by traditional care cost),” the researchers said.

The study looked at costs in France and the United Kingdom.

The researchers found that while active myopia control requires higher upfront investment during childhood, these interventions may reduce the total lifetime cost of vision care. This is achieved through slower progression of myopia, which in turn can lead to simpler corrective lens needs, fewer complex prescriptions, and a lower risk of serious eye pathology later in life.

“Financial investment in active myopia management (AMM) during childhood is likely to reduce the total lifetime cost of myopia compared to traditional myopia management in Europe, even for some of those individuals at risk for slower progression,” the study authors concluded.

“Reducing refractive progression can drive the need for only simpler lenses in adulthood, reduce the risk of pathology and vision loss, and subsequently improve quality of life… It is not surprising, though, that the greatest economic advantage is derived by applying AMM to children who are predicted to be at higher risk for faster myopia progression, with savings up to US$13,071 in France and US$24,003 in the UK.”

Reference available at mivision.com.au.