Myopia prevalent among Malaysian schoolchildren

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PETALING JAYA: The prevalence of myopia or shortsightedness among Malaysians is said to have reached a ‘concerning’ level, mainly due to lack of public awareness on the importance of going for regular eye checks.

Myopia is found to be especially common among the Chinese and Malay communities, with a  42 per cent and 15 per cent prevalence rate respectively, according to SEGi University Faculty of Optometry and Vision Sciences dean, Prof Dr Azrin Ariffin.

“ It is unfortunate that there is a high number of children with vision problems, such as myopia, whose conditions remain undetected,” he said recently at a seminar held in conjunction with the launch of the National Eye Health Awareness (NEHA) 2017 campaign, here.

Organised by the Association of Malaysian Optometrists (AMO) in collaboration with the Health Ministry, the theme for this year’s three-month-long campaign is ‘Vision for Children’.

Citing a study carried out by the American Academy of Ophthalmology in 2003 to assess the prevalence of refractive error and visual impairment in school-age children in Gombak district, Selangor, Azrin said myopia was detected in 9.8 per cent of the children aged seven, and 34.4 per cent of those aged 15.

(This study involved 4,634 children aged between seven and 15 from about 3,000 households in Gombak.)

The researchers also detected a more aggressive form of myopia, known as pathological myopia, in some of the children, he said, adding that it could lead to permanent vision damage if not detected early.

 

Regular eye checks a must

Citing another study carried out in 2006 involving 1,752 Gombak schoolchildren aged seven to 12, Azrin said the findings showed the prevalence of myopia in 30.9 per cent of the Chinese students; 12.5 per cent (Indians) and 9.2 per cent (Malays).

Other studies conducted by Malaysian researchers have also shown a relatively high prevalence of myopia among schoolchildren.

A 2008 study involving 840 pupils aged seven to 12 at 10 primary schools in a suburban area of Kota Bharu, Kelantan, found that 5.4 per cent of them had myopia.

According to another study in 2013 covering 400 preschool children in Kuching, Sarawak, myopia was detected in 4.5 per cent of the four-to six-year-olds involved.

“Healthy eyes and good eyesight are vital for any child’s academic growth, hence the importance of having our children’s eyes tested on a regular basis to enable the early detection and treatment of any disorder,” stressed Azrin, who is also SEGi University Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Student Affairs).

AMO president Murphy Chan said the high prevalence of myopia stemmed from the lack of public awareness on the importance of going for regular eye checks and screening.

“Uncorrected vision problems can affect the development of children and interfere with their studies and can, eventually, even lead to blindness, which will have a huge impact on their quality of life,” he said, when met at the launch of NEHA 2017.

 

Comprehensive eye examination

In his presentation at the seminar titled ‘The Need to Care for Children’s Vision’, Azrin said refractive errors (namely myopia, hyperopia or longsightedness and astigmatism) can occur in children from the age of two.

“In the process of development of a child’s visual system, visual acuity (or sharpness of vision) appears to be the last function to fully mature, and it continues to be refined for the first few years of life,” he explained.

Ideally, he added, a child should undergo comprehensive eye examination several times before starting school.

The child’s first eye examination can be done at six months of age; the second one when he is about four years old; the third at six years, just before entering Year One; and every two years thereafter.

The importance of vision screening for preschoolers cannot be overstressed, as revealed by an article published in the Health Ministry’s official portal at http://www.myhealth.gov.my.

According to the article, there have been many cases of pupils being placed in classes meant for children with special needs after their parents and teachers mistook them as having learning problems due to their inability to follow their teachers in the classroom.

It was found that the pupils concerned were only affected by vision disorders that were corrected as soon as they started wearing spectacles.

Azrin, however, said vision screening alone was not sufficient for children, adding that many people assumed that it (vision screening) was equivalent to an eye examination.

“Vision screening is aimed at detecting refractive errors and binocular vision problems. A comprehensive eye examination, on the other hand, can help to detect the existence of other issues like autism and dyslexia in a child.”

 

Danger posed by blue light rays

Malaysia Hoya Lens Sdn Bhd commercial development assistant manager Chong Zhi Lee, meanwhile, said the tendency for children these days to spend hours fiddling with their smartphones, tablets and other electronic gadgets can have repercussions on their eyes.

“Prolonged exposure to the blue light rays emitted by modern gadgets can pose a risk to their eyes and, among others, can disrupt their sleep and cause damage to the retina,” he said, adding that the risk was greater for young children as their visual system has not matured yet.

The blue light, which is also emitted by computers and television screens, is a type of high energy light that forms part of the visible light spectrum.

As part of the ongoing NEHA 2017, certain optometry outlets are conducting free comprehensive eye examinations for children until the campaign ends on Dec 31.

For more details on the participating outlets, call AMO at 011-26102040 or send an email to [email protected].

 

Can children wear contact lenses?

Contacts lenses can be prescribed for children as long as they are able to follow their optometrist’s instructions and know how to take care of them.

In fact, contact lenses are more suitable than spectacles for children who are active in sports and games.

They are also a good alternative for those who are shy to wear spectacles.

A contact lens is a thin lens placed directly on the surface of the eye to correct visual defects.

Alcon Laboratories (M) Sdn Bhd professional affairs manager Ranukka Singham said it was usual for teenagers to shy from wearing spectacles and it may affect them psychologically if they were forced to wear glasses.

(Alcon is a producer of ophthalmic products, among others.)

“Such children will have better self-esteem if they wear contact lenses,” she said, adding that contact lenses can also be prescribed for younger children if they are capable of keeping their lenses well cared for.

She said daily disposable lenses were more suitable and convenient for teenagers as they required minimum care and could be discarded at the end of each day, with a fresh pair being worn the next morning.

Ranukka also advised consumers to opt for ‘breathable’ contact lenses made from material that allow more oxygen to reach the eyes so that they remain healthy.

“The lenses should also have a silky smooth surface to ensure eye comfort throughout the day,” she added. — Bernama