Guidelines for preventing and slowing myopia progression in Brazilian children

Abstract

This document on myopia control is derived from a compilation of medical literature and the collective clinical expertise of an expert committee comprising members from the Brazilian Society of Pediatric Ophthalmology and the Brazilian Society of Contact Lenses and Cornea. To manage myopia in children, the committee recommends corneal topography and biannual visits with cycloplegic refraction, along with annual optical biometry. For fast-progressing myopia, biannual biometry should be considered. Myopic progression is defined as an annual increase in spherical equivalent greater than 0.50 D/year or in axial length greater than 0.3 mm (until 10 years old) or 0.2 mm (above 11 years). The proposed treatments for myopia progression include environmental control, low concentration atropine, defocus glasses, contact lenses, or Ortho-K lenses, and combinations of these methods may be necessary for uncontrolled cases. Treatment should be sustained for at least 2 years. This document serves as a comprehensive guideline for diagnosing, treating, and monitoring pre-myopic and myopic children in Brazil.