‘Myopia correction, myopia control, and myopia management: definitions and recommended usage’ – the latest consensus editorial to be published by the International Myopia Institute (IMI) – is now available.
The editorial serves as a gateway to the 2025 IMI White Paper series, giving long-needed clarity to foundational terminology used in clinical, research, and regulatory settings.
the editorial aims to resolve ambiguity in terminology associated with myopia by offering clear, distinct definitions for each key term
With the increasing prevalence of myopia worldwide, the editorial aims to resolve ambiguity in terminology associated with myopia by offering clear, distinct definitions for each key term. This is critical, IMI said, citing the example of confusion between “correction,” “control,” or “management”, which can complicate communication among practitioners, researchers, regulators, and patients.
Key definitions from the editorial include:
- Myopia Correction: optical devices or interventions (e.g., spectacles, contact lenses, refractive surgery) that restore best-corrected visual acuity, without any intended impact on slowing myopia progression.
- Myopia Control: a more targeted approach involving interventions specifically designed to slow myopia progression and axial elongation. It often includes treatment efficacy monitoring and carries specific regulatory significance in many countries.
- Myopia Management: a comprehensive, evidence-based care model, including risk assessment, timely correction, lifestyle recommendations, myopia control interventions, and ongoing monitoring, to prevent or reduce progression and manage long-term complications throughout life.
“We consulted a broad range of stakeholders and carefully defined these terms to support clarity between conventional correction and active intervention. Myopia management requires clinically supervised plans that address each patient’s risk factors and long-term eye health,” said Professor Ian Flitcroft, lead author and IMI taskforce member. “Myopia correction techniques and control interventions are essential pieces of the overarching goal to manage myopia, which is a holistic, evidence-based approach incorporating lifestyle recommendations, risk assessments, and lifelong care of emerging complications.”
Call to Adopt
IMI is calling on eye care professionals, researchers, educators, regulators, and industry partners to adopt these definitions in their work, from clinical guidelines to product labelling, to foster consistency and improve patient care globally.
Access the IMI editorial here.
