HOYA Malaysia launches A Million Visions Campaign to raise awareness on children’s eye health

In conjunction with World Sight Day 2024, HOYA Malaysia has launched its “A Million Visions” campaign, to raise awareness about children’s eye health, especially relating to myopia. 

Myopia, or shortsightedness, is a refractive error that affects millions of children worldwide. The American Academy of Opthamology defines it in laymen’s terms as a condition where “close-up objects look clear, but distant objects look blurry.”

Recent studies have found that prevalence of myopia has reached alarming rates: it is projected that nearly half of the global population could be myopic by 2050. High myopia is associated with an increased risk of serious eye diseases such as glaucoma, cataract, and retinal detachment – underscoring the urgency of addressing this growing public health concern.

HOYA’s campaign will offer free eye examinations and lifestyle consultations for children aged 5 to 12. Parents can book an appointment at one of over 400 participating optical stores nationwide. Registrations start on 7 October 2024 and close on 22 October 2024, or once all slots are filled, and can be done through HOYA’s link at https://tinyurl.com/wsdhoya.

"We are committed to empowering parents with the knowledge and solutions to protect their children's vision. Early intervention can make all the difference in preventing the progression of myopia and securing a brighter future for our young generation,” says Ms. Lew Chee Quin, Managing Director at Malaysian Hoya Lens Sdn. Bhd.

The campaign also urges eye care professionals to consider clinically proven early interventions, such as HOYA’s MiYOSMART lenses to manage myopia progression in high-risk children. MiYOSMART features the Defocus Incorporated Multiple Segments (D.I.M.S) lens, which has proven to effectively reduce progression of myopia by up to 60%.

The technology creates multiple defocus zones on the lens surface, which works to slow down the progression of myopia by controlling eye growth while still providing clear central vision – helping children to have better visual health and reducing the risk of future complications.

Common misconceptions about myopia

One of the most common misconceptions is the belief that wearing glasses will make myopia worse or lead to dependence on them – which is false. Untreated myopia leads to its progression, which increases the risk of severe vision problems later in life, one of which is blindness.

"Myopia itself doesn't cause blindness directly, but it significantly increases the risk of developing serious eye conditions that can lead to vision loss. Early detection and intervention are key to preventing these outcomes," says Dr Norazah Abdul Rahman, a leading ophthalmologist in Kuala Lumpur.

What parents can do to help prevent or slow down myopia in their children

• Spend more time outdoors: Experts recommend at least two hours a day outdoors to reduce the risk of myopia onset and progression.
• Regular eye checks: Ensure you bring your child for regular eye examinations to detect and treat myopia or other vision issues early. Be mindful that children may hide or may not recognise vision problems.
• Give eyes a break: Encourage children to follow the 20-20-20 rule—every 20 minutes, look at something at least 20 feet away for at least 20 seconds to reduce eye strain from screen time and near work such as reading.