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In this edition of Advances in Eyecare we hear from three experts about developments in maintaining ocular health. The speakers discuss their fields of research as applicable to optometric practice.

Dr Nicole Carnt outlines the nature of Acanthamoeba keratitis, its causes, diagnosis, management and avoidance. There is some discussion of why there has been an increase in incidence in some UK areas in the last year.

Prof Niall Strang looks at the latest views on the use of low-dose atropine in the slowing of myopic progression and the likely potential this may have for the future for UK-based practitioners in myopia therapy.

Dr Tariq Aslam looks at the review of the Royal College of Ophthalmologists (RCO) guidelines for the screening for retinal disease due to the systemic use of chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine and how the optometrist may be usefully involved in the multidisciplinary approach to future screening and monitoring.

Last published: December 2019

    ◄Unit 1 - Acanthamoeba (~15 mins)Unit 3 - Chloroquine and Hydroxychloroquine Retinopathy Screening (~16 mins)►

    Unit 2 - Low-dose Atropine (~8 mins)

    Unit 2 - Low-dose Atropine (~8 mins)

    Professor Niall Strang and Abeeda Khatoon

    Myopia is a cause of sight loss reaching epidemic proportions around the globe. For most people with low to moderate myopia the main implications are refractive, but for those classed as having high myopia (-6.00DS or more) there is an increased risk of ocular pathology. For these patients, a number of possible interventions have been looked at, including the use of low-dose atropine. In this interview, Abeeda Khatoon speaks to Professor Niall Strang at Glasgow Caledonian University to find out how this intervention works and its availability in the UK.

    • References

    • Chia A, Chua WH, Cheung YB, et al. (2012). Atropine for the treatment of childhood myopia: safety and efficacy of 0.5%, 0.1%, and 0.01% doses (Atropine for the Treatment of Myopia 2). Ophthalmology 119:347–54

      Chia A, Lu QS, Tan D. (2016). Five-year clinical trial on atropine for the treatment of myopia 2: Myopia control with atropine 0.01% eyedrops. Ophthalmology. 123:391–9

      Harvey W. The return of atropine. Optician, 05.10.2018, p17

      Holden BA, Fricke TR, Wilson DA, et al. Global Prevalence of Myopia and High Myopia and Temporal Trends from 2000 through 2050, Ophthalmology, May 2016 Volume 123, Issue 5, Pages 1036–1042

      Loughman J, Flitcroft DI. (2016). The acceptability and visual impact of 0.01% atropine in a Caucasian population. Br J Ophthalmol. Nov;100(11):1525-1529. doi: 10.1136/bjophthalmol-2015-307861. Epub 2016 Feb 22

      Pei-Chang Wu et al. Update in myopia and treatment strategy of atropine use in myopia control. Nature, June 2018, doi.org/10.1038/s41433-018-0139-7

      Tideman JWL, et al. (2018) Axial length growth and the risk of developing myopia in European children. Acta Ophthalmol. 96: 301–309

      Yam JC et al. Low-Concentration Atropine for Myopia Progression (LAMP) Study: A Randomized, Double-Blinded, Placebo-Controlled Trial of 0.05%, 0.025%, and 0.01% Atropine Eye Drops in Myopia Control. Ophthalmology. 2019 Jan;126(1):113-124

    ◄Unit 1 - Acanthamoeba (~15 mins)Unit 3 - Chloroquine and Hydroxychloroquine Retinopathy Screening (~16 mins)►