January 17, 2022
By Nathan Dobbie, Head of Change and Communication, Brien Holden Vision Institute
The latest evidence, as well as user feedback, has been taken into consideration to deliver the most recent updates to BHVI’s Myopia Calculator.
BHVI’s Myopia Calculator, an evidence-based online tool that enables eye care practitioners to explain the possible progression of myopia over time to their patients, has been updated to roll out some new features.
The calculator will continue to deliver on its trusted features of “Red line; without management” to illustrate mean refractive error change without myopia control and the 95% confidence interval of the mean refractive error. It will also continue to feature “Green line; with management” to illustrate the beneficial effect of slowing myopia progression.
The field of myopia management is quickly evolving with new treatment options, as well as more evidence on certain existing options; the latest evidence, as well as user feedback, has been taken into consideration to deliver the most recent updates to BHVI’s Myopia Calculator.
Progression Curves
- “Red line; without management” has been updated for the Caucasian population and is now incorporating additional datasets.
- “Green line; with management” has undergone a graphical update. Based on published evidence (primarily based on trials that are one to two years in duration), the annualized myopia progression with myopia management is presented as an unbroken green line for the first two years. The curve is projected beyond the two years using the same myopia control percentage rate and presented as a dashed green line. Evidence considered for each of the myopia management options has been updated and listed under “References.”
New Myopia Management Options
The myopia management options have been expanded to include two new categories: “Multisegment/lenslet spectacles” and “Medium dose atropine.”
The tool allows eye care practitioners to input patient age, level of refractive error, and a treatment option when beginning myopia management therapy. It then demonstrates the average effect of the treatment on myopia and the average difference in refractive error with and without myopia control treatment.
Professor Padmaja Sankaridurg, Head of Myopia, BHVI, and Assistant Professor Thomas Naduvilath, Head of Biostatistics, BHVI, who have both been working closely on the upgrade, concur that, “We remain focused on providing evidence-based tools for eye care practitioners. We know that the BHVI Myopia Calculator is a valuable tool that enables practitioners to begin the myopia control conversation with their customers.”