An eye drop to treat DME?

Oculis is working on it. The company announced patient enrollment is complete for its phase 3 trials evaluating topical OCS-01 for the treatment of diabetic macular edema. Details here.

In honor of Earth Day…

CORE launched an environmental-focused eyewear education website. 

Can a serum help with digital eye strain?

TearRestore just launched the WINQ Eyelid Serum, which targets the TRPM8 receptors on the lid to activate blinking. 

Is reading in the dark bad for my child’s eyes?

Maybe—a new study shows it might be a risk factor for myopia.

The study, published in BMC Ophthalmology, evaluated myopia risk factors such as an association between night-time reading habits under low illumination in children.

Talk about the study.

Investigators analyzed data from a cross-sectional survey conducted in Argentina as part of the Myopia Awareness Campaign in June 2024; included were a total of 1,298 children (mean age 10.69 years, 51.5% males) aged 7 to 15 years.

The data was collected using a 23-question Google Form that asked about self-reported myopia, reading habits, illumination levels, type of housing, outdoor time, and parental high myopia.

Findings?

The prevalence of self-reported myopia in children was 23.7%.

Significant risk factors for myopia included:

• Parental high myopia
• High-intensity reading
• Living in a house without a garden
• Older age 
• Less outdoor time

What about reading at night in the dark?

Almost half (49.5%) of children read at night in bed before sleeping, with 12.5% reading with lights off (i.e., only the light of the device) and 30.4% reading with one or two lights on.

While the initial unadjusted analysis suggested that reading at night in the dark was associated with myopia, the association lost significance after adjusting for age.

Meaning: The observed relationship between myopia and reading in the dark may be confounded by age, with older children—who are more likely to be myopic—also being more inclined to read in the dark.

Expert opinion?

To start: Illumination is crucial for how the retina perceives the balance between ON and OFF contrast.

“This light adaptation of the retina could affect emmetropization, as it seems that under low illumination in mesopic conditions, the retina does not perceive accurately the ON contrast that stops the eye from growing,” the study authors highlighted.

Anything else?

Previous studies have demonstrated that bright light prevents experimental myopia progression when applied in the last hours of the day—but not in the morning or midday—and that myopic defocus is more effective in the afternoon than in the morning.

Meaning: It is probable that what children do in the last 2 hours before sleep could be related to myopia onset and progression.

Interesting … any limitations to this research?

A few, see them here.

Take home.

These findings highlight the role of genetic and environmental factors and lifestyle choices in myopia development, such as parental high myopia, high-intensity reading, living in a house without a garden, older age, and less outdoor time.

Although reading at night in the dark appeared as a potential risk factor, further research is required to elucidate its role in myopia development and progression.

Pittsburgh ODs…

Patients might ask you about this sad LASIK story.

See you next week! 

Jackie Garlich OD, FAAO
Founder // Glance

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