Bill Harvey: OPO’s upside your head

In among the various benefits of joining the College of Optometrists, there are two that often go unnoticed. Firstly, members can apply for an Athens account, which allows access to a wide range of academic journals for free. Like a gym membership, remember to renew annually.

Secondly, you have access to one of the world’s highest rated academic publications; Ophthalmic and Physiological Optics (OPO). All too often, OPO is thought of as dry, academic and irrelevant to daily practice. I suggest you look again. This month, for example, there is a study that shows how significant near-work is in increasing axial length and, therefore, myopia. The well-designed study suggests that, independent of indoor or outdoor light exposure and of near task working distances, a 15 minute reading task causes a significant increase in axial length. The conclusion, relevant to all of you involved in myopia management, stated: ‘Practitioners should emphasise how near-work can reduce the beneficial effects of time outdoors, while providing recommendations related to time outdoors for myopia control.’