Press Release
20 July 2022
New factsheet and consent form aim to better inform parents of children with myopia
A new factsheet and consent form developed by the British Contact Lens Association (BCLA) in partnership with CooperVision will help eye care professionals to better manage children with myopia.
These freely available resources aim to simplify the condition and dispel myths around what it means for patients, reassuring families of the methods used to manage myopia and to slow its progression.
The factsheet addresses five key questions parents are likely to have:
• What is myopia?
• Will my child’s myopia get worse?
• What is myopia management?
• Why has my ECP advised myopia management?
• What options are there for myopia management?
It answers these five points in clear, concise language and outlines the results of research showing that myopia is on the increase across the globe. Children are becoming myopic at a younger age and the level of their myopia is getting worse.
Different myopia management interventions are discussed, including soft contact lenses (dual-focus and multifocal options), orthokeratology, spectacle lenses and the latest information on atropine eye drops which are currently not indicated for the purposes of myopia management.
Luke Stevens-Burt, chief executive of the BCLA, said: “We are delighted to have partnered with CooperVision to produce this essential guide to myopia management for both parents and eye care professionals.
“The CooperVision team have supported development of this together with independent expert clinical insight and we have no doubt this factsheet and consent form will prove invaluable as increasing numbers of eye care professionals embrace the benefits of myopia management techniques in everyday practice. Both resources also compliment the BCLA’s popular myopia management certificate, which is designed to inform and educate eye care professionals on this important topic.”
The consent form has been specifically created for ECPs to use with their patients in practice and consists of eight ‘tick box’ style statements outlining the aim of the treatment pathway, any associated risks or limitations and the likely need for further appointments or consultations.
Krupa Patel, senior manager for myopia management in CooperVision’s European professional services team, added: “In the last few years we have seen myopia management adopted by an ever-increasing number of eye care professionals and it is vital that as a profession we are giving out clear and consistent messaging to patients.
“This factsheet and consent form will allow a uniform approach, ensuring patients are well-informed and fully understand the benefits of this treatment pathway. We are delighted to have worked with the BCLA to produce these documents and hope they will prove a useful resource for years to come.”
For more information on myopia management please visit www.bcla.org.uk or www.coopervision.co.uk/practitioner for further resources and education.
NOTES TO EDITORS:
About CooperVision
CooperVision, a division of CooperCompanies (NYSE:COO), is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of contact lenses. The company produces a full array of daily disposable, two-week and monthly soft contact lenses that feature advanced materials and optics, and premium rigid gas permeable lenses for orthokeratology and scleral designs. CooperVision has a strong heritage of addressing the toughest vision challenges such as astigmatism, presbyopia, childhood myopia, and highly irregular corneas; and offers the most complete portfolio of spherical, toric and multifocal products available. Through a combination of innovative products and focused practitioner support, the company brings a refreshing perspective to the marketplace, creating real advantages for customers and wearers. For more information, visit www.coopervision.co.uk.
About CooperCompanies
CooperCompanies ("Cooper") is a global medical device company publicly traded on the NYSE (NYSE:COO). Cooper operates through two business units, CooperVision and CooperSurgical. CooperVision brings a refreshing perspective on vision care with a commitment to developing a wide range of high-quality products for contact lens wearers and providing focused practitioner support. CooperSurgical is committed to advancing the health of women, babies and families with its diversified portfolio of products and services focusing on medical devices and fertility & genomics. Headquartered in San Ramon, Calif., Cooper has a workforce of more than 12,000 with products sold in over 100 countries. For more information, please visit www.coopercos.com.
About BCLA
As a membership organisation, the BCLA provides a wide range of benefits to help members at all stages of their educational and professional career access a range of high quality resources. We provide members with a continual stream of relevant information as well as the opportunity to communicate with others involved with contact lenses, whatever their role.
The BCLA is proud to deliver a wide range of free and discounted events throughout the year – both for members and non-members. We continually strive to make our events accessible to everyone, no matter where they are in the world. From online courses in dry eye and myopia management and specialist webinars featuring global experts to live-streamed conferences and scientific meetings, we deliver the very latest learning at a time and location to suit you.
Our aim is to be recognised as the world’s leading contact lens and anterior eye community. Through the process of knowledge sharing, education and networking, BCLA brings expertise from the world of academia and research into the world of the Eye Health Professionals, for the benefit of their patients. For more information about the BCLA, visit www.bcla.org.uk
MEDIA CONTACTS
BCLA
For further information or to arrange further interviews with the BCLA, please call Daniel Owens from Orange Juice Communications on 07909 916668 or email [email protected]
CooperVision
For further information or to arrange further interviews with CooperVision, please call Tom Chapman from Five by Five on 023 8082 8525 or email: [email protected]