TY - JOUR
T1 - Trends in myopia management attitudes and strategies in clinical practice
T2 - Survey of eye care practitioners in Africa
AU - Nti, Augustine N
AU - Owusu-Afriyie, Bismark
AU - Osuagwu, Uchechukwu Levi
AU - Kyei, Samuel
AU - Ovenseri-Ogbomo, Godwin
AU - Ogbuehi, Kelechi C
AU - Ouzzani, Mhamed
AU - Agho, Kingsley E
AU - Mashige, Khathutshelo Percy
AU - Ekure, Edgar
AU - Ekpenyong, Bernadine N
AU - Ocansey, Stephen
AU - Ndep, Antor O
AU - Obinwanne, Chukwuemeka Junior
AU - Berntsen, David A
AU - Wolffsohn, James S
AU - Naidoo, Kovin S
PY - 2023/2
Y1 - 2023/2
N2 - PURPOSE: There remains a lack of information on the perception and adoption of myopia control strategies among African eye care practitioners (ECPs). This study provides an African perspective to similar previous studies conducted in other parts of the world.METHODS: A self-administered survey in English and French was distributed to ECPs across Africa. The items on the questionnaire assessed their level of concern about the increasing prevalence of paediatric myopia, perceived efficacy, opinions on, and adoption of various myopia management modalities.RESULTS: Responses were obtained from 330 ECPs working in 23 African countries. Respondents were highly concerned about the increasing prevalence of paediatric myopia in their clinic (median 8/10) and perceived approved myopia control soft contact lenses as the most effective at slowing myopia progression (mean perceived reduction in myopia progression ± SD; 53.9 ± 27.1%), followed by single vision spectacles (53.1 ± 30.9%), and orthokeratology (52.8 ± 28.0%). Multifocal soft contact lenses (40.4 ± 25.8%) and pharmaceutical agents such as topical atropine drops (39.5 ± 27.1%) were perceived as least effective in slowing myopia progression. Although ECPs reported being aware of various myopia control strategies, they still mainly prescribed single vision spectacles to a large proportion (64.3 ± 29.9%) of young progressing myopes. Nearly one-third (27%) of ECPs who prescribed single vision lenses stated they were concerned about the cost implications to patients. Other reported concerns included safety of, and inadequate information about myopia control options.CONCLUSIONS: African ECPs continue to prescribe single vision lenses for progressing myopes despite being aware of the various myopia control options. Practitioners' perceptions of the efficacy of several modalities to slow myopia progression do not align with the current best evidence. Clear practice guidelines and continuing education on myopia control are warranted to inform and guide the management of myopic patients in Africa.
AB - PURPOSE: There remains a lack of information on the perception and adoption of myopia control strategies among African eye care practitioners (ECPs). This study provides an African perspective to similar previous studies conducted in other parts of the world.METHODS: A self-administered survey in English and French was distributed to ECPs across Africa. The items on the questionnaire assessed their level of concern about the increasing prevalence of paediatric myopia, perceived efficacy, opinions on, and adoption of various myopia management modalities.RESULTS: Responses were obtained from 330 ECPs working in 23 African countries. Respondents were highly concerned about the increasing prevalence of paediatric myopia in their clinic (median 8/10) and perceived approved myopia control soft contact lenses as the most effective at slowing myopia progression (mean perceived reduction in myopia progression ± SD; 53.9 ± 27.1%), followed by single vision spectacles (53.1 ± 30.9%), and orthokeratology (52.8 ± 28.0%). Multifocal soft contact lenses (40.4 ± 25.8%) and pharmaceutical agents such as topical atropine drops (39.5 ± 27.1%) were perceived as least effective in slowing myopia progression. Although ECPs reported being aware of various myopia control strategies, they still mainly prescribed single vision spectacles to a large proportion (64.3 ± 29.9%) of young progressing myopes. Nearly one-third (27%) of ECPs who prescribed single vision lenses stated they were concerned about the cost implications to patients. Other reported concerns included safety of, and inadequate information about myopia control options.CONCLUSIONS: African ECPs continue to prescribe single vision lenses for progressing myopes despite being aware of the various myopia control options. Practitioners' perceptions of the efficacy of several modalities to slow myopia progression do not align with the current best evidence. Clear practice guidelines and continuing education on myopia control are warranted to inform and guide the management of myopic patients in Africa.
KW - Africa
KW - Attitudes
KW - Myopia
KW - Myopia control
KW - Myopia management
KW - Myopia progression
UR - https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1367048422000352?via%3Dihub
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85128133578&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.clae.2022.101597
DO - 10.1016/j.clae.2022.101597
M3 - Article
C2 - 35428590
SN - 1367-0484
VL - 46
JO - Contact lens & anterior eye : the journal of the British Contact Lens Association
JF - Contact lens & anterior eye : the journal of the British Contact Lens Association
IS - 1
M1 - 101597
ER -