People in South West with near-sighted vision or dry eye to benefit from cutting-edge diagnostic tool.
Taunton optometrist, Earlam and Christopher, will be the world’s first high street optometrist/clinic to have a cutting-edge diagnostic tool, called MYAH (Topcon Inc., Japan), to help treat people living with near-sightedness (myopia) or dry eye conditions.
Near-sightedness (myopia) is a very common eye condition which causes distant objects to appear blurry, while those close-by are in focus. It affects an estimated 1 in 3 people in the UK, including nearly 1 in 5 teenagers, and is predicted to rise, with experts estimating that half the population may be myopic by 2050.
For a long time, optometrists have been able to measure the front of the eye and prescribe special contact lenses that are worn at night and that temporarily reshape the eye and slow down the progression of myopia. The problem has always been that the technology hasn’t been there to allow them to measure progress. The installation of the all-in-one MYAH tool will allow optometrists to more accurately and easily do this, screen for risks and to monitor the effectiveness of treatments. The MYAH means that these advanced tests can be done on the high street and the results are available instantaneously.
The technology combines the latest in corneal topography – a medical imaging tool that creates a three dimensional map of the surface of the curvature of the cornea; optical biometry – a non-invasive method to measure the anatomical characteristics of the eye such as the length of the eye and power of the cornea; and pupillometry – a tool to measure pupil size and reactivity. In addition, the device offers tools to assist in the diagnosis and follow-up of patients with dry eye and to support contact lens fitting.
Sarah Farrant, partner and optometrist at Earlam and Christopher, said: “We’re seeing more people than ever with myopia, particularly children between the ages of 6 and 13 years. It can have a big impact on quality of life such as schooling and reading so it’s vital to catch and treat it early.
“As a practice that has always looked to technology to enhance patient care, we were delighted to be asked by the manufacturer, Topcon, to work alongside them in developing this unique piece of equipment. We knew that if we could just measure the depth and length of the eyeball effectively, all treatments addressing myopia development would be significantly more effective.”
Edward Farrant, partner and optometrist at the clinic commented: “It’s thought that myopia is increasing as children spend more time studying and being inside on computers or reading from a SmartScreen rather than playing outdoors. Thankfully, myopia is easy to treat with glasses, contact lenses or routine surgery, so it doesn’t need to reduce quality of life.
“Blurry vision when looking at distant objects, squinting to see clearly, headaches and difficulty seeing when driving, especially at night are all symptoms. If you notice any of these, don’t delay and come in for a check-up.”
Find out more at https://earlamandchristopher.co.uk.