In September I was fortunate enough to attend the International Myopia Congress, held in Tokyo (just ahead of the Rugby World Cup). Myopia, or short-sightedness, means vision close range is clear but things further away (TV, the board at school, road signs) are blurred.

As global rates of myopia increase rapidly, particularly in South East Asian countries, there are concerns about the long term impact this will have on future eye disease (risk of retinal detachment, macular degeneration and glaucoma increase with myopia).

The four day congress brought together researchers, academics and clinicians from all around the world and sessions were presented by authors of clinical and scientific research.

The community is trying is understand what causes myopia. This effort included studies into genetics as well as animal research. Other projects look at epidemiology, trying to figure out who is effected and identify environmental factors which may play a role. So far we know the importance of two hours per day time spent outdoors will delay the onset of myopia in children.

One day was dedicated to studies following intervention strategies, such as ortho-K contact lenses, and soft contact lens designs.

Rising rates of myopia have been described as an epidemic, and resulted in some large scale public health initiatives in Taiwan and Singapore. It was inspiring to hear from individuals who had played vital roles in pushing these program’s ahead.

800 delegates attended in Tokyo. The next congress will be in Rotterdam in 2021.

Rodney College student Georgia Brierly has just returned from a touch competition in Europe, where she represented the NZ Barbarians U18 Girls Sevens team against club sides from Sweden and the Netherlands.

Conveniently Georgia has been able to ditch her glasses thanks to her orthokeratology (Ortho-K) lenses that correct her eyesight as she sleeps. Advances in Ortho-K, mean Georgia no longer has to wear glasses or contact lenses during the day.

Ortho-K involves gently reshaping the cornea of the eye to temporarily modify or eliminate refractive error - including short sightedness or myopia.

While the process has been practised for almost 40 years, results were quite variable and unpredictable. However, in the last 10 years new technology has become available to accurately map the corneal shape and manufacture lenses that will achieve a controlled and precise correction in the eye. In addition, new developments in lens materials have been made that enable safe overnight wear to be possible.

Optometrists fitting Ortho-K soon realised that young people wearing these lenses to correct short- sightedness didn’t progress or get worse like those who wore regular glasses or soft contact lenses. Numerous studies confirmed that wearing Ortho-K lenses stopped or slowed kids from getting more short-sighted.

“Rates of short-sightedness have been increasing worldwide; in the US rates of myopia (short-sightedness) have increased from 25 per cent to 42 per cent in 30 years and by 2050 it is predicted that 50 per cent of the population will be short-sighted, doubling what the rate was in 2000,” Claire McDonald says.

“Our concerns are also the more short-sighted you become, there is more risk your eyes will develop cataracts, retinal detachments, macular degeneration and glaucoma. So Ortho-K offers both short term and long term benefits”.

Ortho-k is now a safe, viable and reversible alternative to refractive surgery. The cornea, while being mouldable, will return to its original shape if lens wear is stopped.

“You simply sleep in your lenses, then wake up and remove them, and enjoy clear vision all day.”

Georgia said she enjoys playing touch while being able to see clearly without having to think about using corrective contact lenses, and her mum, Rachel, tells us “Ortho-K has changed Georgia’s life”.