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Shortsighted
TECHNOLOGY
by
Making Contact
By Shirley Ha, BSc. (Hons), O.D.
ith stay-at-home orders in effect during the COVID-19 epidemic,
there is mounting concern about the increased amount of time
children are spending on computers/tablets and handheld devices.
Whether they’re playing video games, using social media or being
Wschooled online, this increased screen exposure is contributing to
another epidemic: the global myopia epidemic.
Young, developing eyes, especially ACCOMMODATION
myopes who wear contact lenses, It is well known that accommodation
are the most vulnerable. They are demands vary, depending on whether
experiencing secondary side effects— the ametropia is corrected with contact
especially at near, such as subtle, lenses or glasses. In myopes, during
intermittent diplopia or blur from extensive near activities, there is a greater
undiagnosed binocular vision dysfunc- increase in accommodation when
tions—that are often overlooked by wearing contact lenses than glasses.
eyecare professionals. This is due to the perception of the
near target being closer to the eye. As
A systematic approach to understanding the eyes use up the accommodative
the foundations of binocular vision and reserves with prolonged viewing, and
diagnosing related abnormalities can as the accommodative insufficiency or
help slow or halt the progression of inhibition becomes habituated over
myopia and improve the quality of time, the monocular accommodation
vision and life for everyone. amplitude testing, such as with Sheardʻs,
16 16 / NOVEMBER - DECEMBER 2020 / www.ENVISIONMAGAZINE.ca /