WHY WAITING IS NOT A NEUTRAL CHOICE
One common misconception is the belief that myopia can simply be “fixed” later. Refractive surgery such as LASIK may reduce dependence on glasses in adulthood, but it does not reverse eye elongation that has already occurred.
Those who already had high myopia before surgery remain at higher risk of myopia-related eye disease later in life, even after surgery.
In very high myopia, refractive surgery may also be less suitable as higher correction requires more corneal tissue removal, which can affect corneal strength and increase surgical risk.
This is why waiting should not be seen as a neutral choice. By the time a child reaches high myopia, some lifelong risks may already be locked in.
Singapore has made great strides in raising awareness of childhood myopia. The next step is to move beyond awareness towards active management.
Parents can start by asking three questions at their child’s next eye check: How fast is the myopia progressing? Should axial length be measured? What evidence-based options are suitable for my child?
These questions move the conversation beyond stronger glasses towards protecting children’s long-term eye health.
We may not be able to eliminate childhood myopia, but we should no longer accept rapid progression as inevitable or treat repeated prescription changes as the full extent of care.
In a country where myopia is so common, the greatest risk may be that we have become too used to it.
Dr Foo Li Lian is Head and Clinical Director of the Myopia Service at the Singapore National Eye Centre and Clinical Assistant Professor at Duke-NUS Medical School. She also serves as President of the Myopia Society of Singapore.
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