Abstract:
Background: Myopia is one of the most common eye conditions. Myopia progression can lead to significant changes of the eyeballs resulting in
irreversible loss of sight. Complicated Myopia is one of the main causes of invalidation as a result of ocular pathologies. The aim of the study was to
evaluate the efficacy and optimize the treatment and prevention of acquired uncomplicated myopia progression by applying refractive therapy.
Material and methods: The study included 80 patients (160 eyes) aged 7 to 19 years (mean 15.6 ± 4.1 years) with myopia of low and medium grade.
All eyes were randomly divided into 2 groups of 80 each depending on the treatment, which in turn were divided depending on the degree of myopia
and age. Patients of the main group applied refractive therapy, the control group - optical correction.
Results: The modification of keratometry and pachimetry indices by decreasing the thickness and refractive power in the central and peripheral
area of the cornea determines a bifocal optical zone, which allows a good view at close and far distances. This phenomenon creates optimal conditions
for optimum vision, facilitates accommodation, normalizes the activity of the accommodation apparatus, thus slowing myopia progression. Refractive
therapy showed a superior effect compared with optical correction by achieving a higher clinical effect, halting the progression of acquired uncomplicated
myopia and increasing the quality of life.
Conclusions: The mechanism of refractive therapy of stopping the progression of myopia is based on the formation of a bifocal optical zone that
transforms the hyperopic defocus into a weak myopic one. The refractive therapy stops the progression of acquired uncomplicated myopia by limiting
the growth of the eye’s anteroposteror axis. It was demonstrated that the selected efficacy depends on the degree of myopia and patient’s age.
Description:
Department of Ophthalmology, Nicolae Testemitsanu State University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Chisinau, the Republic of Moldova