ISSUE
posterior segment • innovation • enlightenment
4 09 | 13 | 21
PIE M A G A ZINE ’ S D A ILY CONGR E S S NE W S ON T HE P O S T E RIOR S E GME N T
HIGHLIGHTS the lowdown 04 Get on how AI is
revolutionizing the future of retinal healthcare!
subretinal 06 Tackling hemorrhage —
Treatment options and promising studies
to Detox! Check 10 Time out EU’s new medical device regulation
EURETINA Takes
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Action Against Myopia Experts advocate less screen time and healthier indoor lifestyle for children
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by Nick Eustice
T
he first session of the last day of this year’s EURETINA virtual conference began bright and early, with each of us focused intently on our screens. Coincidentally, on the subject of “Better Patient Counselling: Using Epidemiological Evidence in Day-to-Day Clinical Practice”, most of the speakers’ focus was on those very screens we were all using, and what effect they have on our eyes. During the past year, it is no secret that people everywhere have been spending more time indoors, more time in front of screens, and more time absorbing artificial blue light than in years past. And these big changes in patients’ lives, and the life of their eyes, formed the predominant underlying theme of the morning’s discussion.
Effects of quarantine in children’s vision The session opened with co-chair Dr. Caroline Klaver, who spoke on the topic of quarantine and its relationship to myopia. The lifestyles of most
people on earth have changed as a result of COVID-related lockdowns, and it is fair to say that this change has not been for the better. This is especially true for children, in whom the onset of myopia is most likely to occur. As we know, lifestyle is a key contributor in instances of myopia, and these behavioral changes that have taken place due to disease prevention measures lead Dr. Klaver to present data on what she terms “the risky business of lockdown”. Many studies have shown that outdoor exposure significantly reduces myopia instances among children. Near work, being an activity where the focus of the eye remains at a very short distance, has been shown to increase the chances of developing myopia. Thus, years ago, Dr. Klaver introduced a rule of thumb for childhood lifestyle in order to avoid the onset of myopia: for every 20 minutes of near work, children should look at a distance for at least 20 seconds. Additionally, it is recommended that children have two hours of outdoor time every day. >> continued on Page 3