Vol. 6, Issue 2, Part B (2024)

Background: Myopia, or nearsightedness, is a rapidly growing public health concern, particularly among children. The global prevalence of myopia has been increasing at an alarming rate, with a significant rise in early onset and progression during school years. This trend is attributed to a combination of genetic, environmental, and behavioral factors, including prolonged near work, limited outdoor activities, and increased use of digital devices. If left unaddressed, progressive myopia in childhood can lead to high myopia, which is associated with severe ocular complications in adulthood, including retinal detachment, glaucoma, and myopic maculopathy.

Objective: This review aims to explore the potential role of occupational optometry in mitigating myopia progression in children, particularly within school and recreational environments. It focuses on how optometric interventions and environmental modifications can be integrated into daily routines to reduce the risk factors associated with myopia development and progression.

Methods: A comprehensive review of the literature was conducted, examining studies related to the epidemiology of myopia, risk factors contributing to its onset and progression, and the effectiveness of various optometric and environmental interventions. The review also considers the specific demands placed on children's visual systems in school and recreational settings and how occupational optometry can address these challenges.

Results: The findings indicate that environmental factors such as reduced outdoor time, increased near work, and digital screen exposure are significant contributors to myopia progression in children. Occupational optometry, with its focus on diagnostic procedures along with followups and optimizing visual performance and comfort in specific environments, offers a valuable approach to managing these risk factors. Interventions such as promoting outdoor activities, implementing visual ergonomics in classrooms, encouraging regular visual breaks, and using specialized optical devices (e.g., multifocal lenses, orthokeratology) have shown promise in slowing myopia progression. Additionally, collaborative efforts between optometrists, educators, and parents are crucial for creating supportive environments that foster healthy visual habits in children.

Conclusion: As the prevalence of myopia continues to rise globally, particularly among school-aged children, there is an urgent need for targeted interventions that address the unique visual demands of modern educational and recreational environments. Occupational optometry plays a critical role in this effort by providing evidence-based strategies to reduce myopia progression and improve visual outcomes. Integrating these strategies into school and recreational settings could significantly impact public health by reducing the long-term burden of myopia and its associated complications.