Research

The COVID-19 pandemic has intensified the global burden of myopia among children due to increased screen time, decreased outdoor activities, and home confinement. To combat this rising trend and prevent myopia-related blindness, collaborative efforts are crucial. While there is abundant evidence-based medicine data on myopia epidemiology and effective interventions, there is limited published information about the roles and responsibilities of clinicians in this context. However, clinicians play a critical role in health promotion and advocacy to prevent myopia onset and progression. Primary prevention involves encouraging children to spend more time outdoors and less on near vision activities, while secondary prevention aims to identify and monitor pre-myopes to prevent progression to myopia. Tertiary prevention involves myopia control methods such as low-concentration atropine eye drops, multifocal spectacle design, and orthokeratology. Clinicians need to advocate for proper funding of myopia examinations, interventions, and optical equipment to effectively implement these strategies. Successful projects in combating myopia in East Asia can serve as valuable examples for other regions facing an increase in myopia cases, including Europe.