2023-08-10T16:01:00
(BPT) – Getting your kids ready for back-to-school season may feel like putting together a jigsaw puzzle. With so much to do, it is important not to miss one of the most critical pieces of the puzzle: an eye exam. From buying pencils and notebooks to new shoes and backpacks, a visit to the eye doctor is often forgotten on the back-to-school check list. Eye health is critical to academic success. In fact, 80% of classroom learning is done visually.[1]
When Alexander was in fifth grade, his parents Estephanie and Argenis became concerned when he started having difficulty reading the board in class and complaining of headaches. Their concern for their son continued to grow, so they sought professional help.
“Our first thought was to call the pediatrician,” said Estephanie of Addison, Illinois. “We were able to quickly get Alexander in for an appointment to do a checkup, and he did a quick eye exam. We were surprised when the pediatrician recommended we visit an eye doctor, and we’re so thankful for that recommendation because visiting an eye doctor hadn’t even occurred to us.”
After a comprehensive eye exam with Dr. Caroline Cho, O.D., DuPage Optical, Alexander was prescribed ACUVUE® Abiliti™ Overnight Therapeutic Lenses to manage his myopia, or nearsightedness, which is a chronic and progressive disease in which the eye grows too long.[2],[3],[4]
“Alexander’s story isn’t uncommon. I have a lot of children and young adults come to my office who experience similar symptoms,” said Dr. Cho. “Fortunately, if they come in early, we can help manage their myopia through treatments like ACUVUE® Abiliti™ Overnight Therapeutic Lenses. They’re worn overnight and temporarily reshape the cornea, typically eliminating the need to wear glasses or contacts during the day.”[5],[6],[*]
Back-to-school season is a great time to take your child to an optometrist for a comprehensive eye exam. These exams help supplement a quick vision screening at school or a pediatrician’s office and are important because they can detect the early signs of myopia, as well as more than 270 common and chronic diseases.[7] Myopia is often diagnosed in children between the ages of 8 and 12.[8] It can develop in earlier years, which is why it’s recommended that children have an annual comprehensive eye exam starting at age 5.[9],[10]
Myopia impacts an average of one in three kids in the United States and that number is growing.[11],[12] Altered lifestyle factors like increased near work and decreased outdoor time are likely to be contributors to myopia, which has nearly doubled over the past 20 years.[13],[14],[15] But now there are new treatments for kids like Alexander.
“I’m so happy with my Abiliti™ lenses! I’m able to play all my favorite sports like soccer and boxing without having to wear glasses,” said Alexander. “I’m able to see the board in school again and my headaches have gone away.”
Abiliti™ Overnight lenses provide a significant improvement in vision-related quality of life and wearers report better rates of overall vision, far distance vision, symptoms, appearance, satisfaction, activities, academic performance, handling and peer perceptions than those wearing single-vision spectacles.5
“Since Dr. Cho prescribed Alexander with ACUVUE® Abiliti™, we have seen so much improvement in his overall health and happiness,” said Estephanie. “It gives my husband and me peace of mind knowing he can go all day without needing to wear glasses and that his myopia is being managed. I strongly encourage all parents to schedule a yearly eye exam even if they don’t suspect their child is having vision issues.”
To learn more about ACUVUE® Abiliti™ Overnight Therapeutic Lenses and find an eye doctor that manages myopia near you to schedule an eye exam, visit seeyourabiliti.com.
Important Safety Information for Contact Lens Wearers
ACUVUE® Abiliti™ Overnight Therapeutic Contact Lenses are available by prescription only for the management of myopia. An eye care professional will determine whether these contact lenses are right for you. Although rare, serious eye problems including vision loss and blindness can develop while wearing contact lenses. To help avoid these symptoms, follow the wear and replacement schedule and the lens care disinfection instructions provided by your eye care professional. Do not wear these contact lenses if you have an eye infection, or experience eye discomfort, excessive tearing, vision changes, redness or other eye problems. If one of these conditions occurs, remove the lens and contact your eye doctor immediately. For more information on proper wear, care and safety, talk to your eye care professional and review the Patient Instruction Guide, call 1-877-334-3937, or visit www.seeyourabiliti.com.
[*] The lenses are indicated for reducing refractive error up to 6.00D of myopia and up to 1.50D of astigmatism. Results may vary by patient and prescription level.
[1] Vision to Learn. UCLA Study: Impact Analysis of Vision to Learn. https://visiontolearn.org/impact/ucla-study-impact-analysis-of-vision-to-learn/
[2] Flitcroft DI. The complex interactions of retinal, optical and environmental factors in myopia aetiology. Prog Retin Eye Res. 2012;31(6):622-660.
[3] Donovan L, Sankaridurg P, Ho A et al Myopia progression rates in urban children wearing single-vision spectacles. OVS 2012;89(1):27-32.
[4] Pärssinen O, Kauppinen M. Risk factors for high myopia: a 22-year follow-up study from childhood to adulthood. Acta Ophthalmologica. 2019;97(5):510-518.
[5] JJV Data on File 2023. ACUVUE® Abiliti™ Overnight Therapeutic Lenses for Myopia Management – Consolidated, Approved Claims List; U.S. Only Claims
[6] Data on File 2023. Instruction For Use (FDA)
[7] American Optometric Association. Systemic Conditions with Ocular and Visual Manifestations. December 2014.
[8] American Academy of Ophthalmology. Nearsightedness: What Is Myopia? 2022 September. https://www.aao.org/eye-health/diseases/myopia-nearsightedness
[9] American Optometric Association. Annual Comprehensive Eye Exam. https://www.aoa.org/healthy-eyes/caring-for-your-eyes/eye-exams?sso=y
[10] Morgan IG, French AN, Ashby RS, Guo X, Ding X, He M, Rose KA. The epidemics of myopia: Aetiology and prevention. Prog Retin Eye Res. 2018 Jan;62:134-149.
[11] Vitale S et al. Increased prevalence of myopia in the US, 1971-1972, 1999-2004. Arch Ophthalmol. 2009;127(12)1632-1639.
[12] Theophanous C, Modjtahedi BS, Batech M, Marlin DS, Luong TQ, Fong DS. Myopia prevalence and risk factors in children. Clin Ophthalmol. 2018 Aug 29;12:1581-1587
[13] Huang HM, Chang DS, Wu PC. The Association between Near Work Activities and Myopia in Children-A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. PLoS One. 2015 Oct 20;10(10): e0140419.
[14] Wen L, Cao Y, Cheng Q, Li X, Pan L, Li L, Zhu H, Lan W, Yang Z. Objectively measured near work, outdoor exposure and myopia in children. Br J Ophthalmol. 2020 Nov;104(11):1542-1547.
[15] Holden BA, Fricke TR, Wilson DA, et al. Global Prevalence of Myopia and High Myopia and Temporal Trends from 2000 through 2050. Ophthalmology 2016; 123:1036-42.