James S Wolffsohn1, Antonio Calossi2, Pauline Cho3, Kate Gifford4, Lyndon Jones5, Ming Li6, Cesar Lipener7, Nicola S Logan8, Florence Malet9, Sofia Matos10, Jose Manuel Gonzalez Meijome10, Jason J Nichols11, Janis B Orr8, Jacinto Santodomingo-Rubido12, Tania Schaefer13, Nilesh Thite14, Eef van der Worp15, Madara Zvirgzdina8. 1. Ophthalmic Research Group, School of Health & Life Sciences, Aston University, Birmingham, UK. Electronic address: j.s.w.wolffsohn@aston.ac.uk. 2. Department of Physics (Optics and Optometry), University of Florence, Italy. 3. School of Optometry, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. 4. Gerry & Johnson Optometrists, Brisbane, Australia. 5. Centre for Contact Lens Research, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada. 6. Eye Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, China. 7. Contact Lens Section, Federal University of São Paulo/Paulista School of Medicine São Paulo, Brazil. 8. Ophthalmic Research Group, School of Health & Life Sciences, Aston University, Birmingham, UK. 9. Point Vision Bordeaux, Ophthalmologic Center, Bordeaux, France. 10. Clinical and Experimental Optometry Research Lab (CEORLab) - Center of Physics, University of Minho, Portugal. 11. University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Optometry, Birmingham, AL, USA. 12. Menicon R&D Innovation Centre, Fondation Pour Recherches Medicales, Geneva, Switzerland. 13. Clinica Schaefer, Curitiba, Parana, Brazil. 14. International Association of Contact Lens Educators, Pune, India. 15. Eye Research Institute Maastricht, University of Maastricht, Maastricht, the Netherlands.
Abstract
PURPOSE: Myopia is a global public health issue; however, no information exists as to how potential myopia retardation strategies are being adopted globally. METHODS: A self-administrated, internet-based questionnaire was distributed in six languages, through professional bodies to eye care practitioners globally. The questions examined: awareness of increasing myopia prevalence, perceived efficacy and adoption of available strategies, and reasons for not adopting specific strategies. RESULTS: Of the 971 respondents, concern was higher (median 9/10) in Asia than in any other continent (7/10, p<0.001) and they considered themselves more active in implementing myopia control strategies (8/10) than Australasia and Europe (7/10), with North (4/10) and South America (5/10) being least proactive (p<0.001). Orthokeratology was perceived to be the most effective method of myopia control, followed by increased time outdoors and pharmaceutical approaches, with under-correction and single vision spectacles felt to be the least effective (p<0.05). Although significant intra-regional differences existed, overall most practitioners 67.5 (±37.8)% prescribed single vision spectacles or contact lenses as the primary mode of correction for myopic patients. The main justifications for their reluctance to prescribe alternatives to single vision refractive corrections were increased cost (35.6%), inadequate information (33.3%) and the unpredictability of outcomes (28.2%). CONCLUSIONS: Regardless of practitioners' awareness of the efficacy of myopia control techniques, the vast majority still prescribe single vision interventions to young myopes. In view of the increasing prevalence of myopia and existing evidence for interventions to slow myopia progression, clear guidelines for myopia management need to be established.
PURPOSE:Myopia is a global public health issue; however, no information exists as to how potential myopia retardation strategies are being adopted globally. METHODS: A self-administrated, internet-based questionnaire was distributed in six languages, through professional bodies to eye care practitioners globally. The questions examined: awareness of increasing myopia prevalence, perceived efficacy and adoption of available strategies, and reasons for not adopting specific strategies. RESULTS: Of the 971 respondents, concern was higher (median 9/10) in Asia than in any other continent (7/10, p<0.001) and they considered themselves more active in implementing myopia control strategies (8/10) than Australasia and Europe (7/10), with North (4/10) and South America (5/10) being least proactive (p<0.001). Orthokeratology was perceived to be the most effective method of myopia control, followed by increased time outdoors and pharmaceutical approaches, with under-correction and single vision spectacles felt to be the least effective (p<0.05). Although significant intra-regional differences existed, overall most practitioners 67.5 (±37.8)% prescribed single vision spectacles or contact lenses as the primary mode of correction for myopic patients. The main justifications for their reluctance to prescribe alternatives to single vision refractive corrections were increased cost (35.6%), inadequate information (33.3%) and the unpredictability of outcomes (28.2%). CONCLUSIONS: Regardless of practitioners' awareness of the efficacy of myopia control techniques, the vast majority still prescribe single vision interventions to young myopes. In view of the increasing prevalence of myopia and existing evidence for interventions to slow myopia progression, clear guidelines for myopia management need to be established.