Welcome to mivision’s annual Myopia Issue. I’m thrilled to again take on the guest editor role for this bumper offering of the latest in myopia science, innovations, and practice.
This issue opens with the powerful story of eight-year-old Angus, diagnosed with very high myopia at the age of two. Clumsiness and a grandmother’s concerns led to a shocking diagnosis of -9.00D. Even with a strong family history of myopia, this story highlights the family’s journey in understanding the impacts and management of myopia. After initial hiccups, Angus is doing well on atropine treatment and is now a willing advocate and research participant. Don’t miss his opinion on eye exams being “pretty serious”!
Experienced clinical optometrist Emmy Cui details the treatment cascade for myopia, supporting a systematic approach, including red flags for referral or co-management with ophthalmology. Continuing this message, ophthalmologist Dr Loren Rose implores us not to miss the hidden dangers of syndromic myopia; potentially life-threatening systemic health conditions can be part of the picture, necessitating a collaborative and individualised approach.
My feature article takes a journey through new frontiers in myopia – long-term treatment data, light therapies, combination treatments and use of artificial intelligence. In further frontiers, Dr Nicole Liu and Professor Padmaja Sankaridurg connect sleep habits to myopia, indicating another potential lifestyle intervention.
Repeated low-level red-light (RLRL) therapy is a red-hot topic; Dr Yuri Aung provides case studies from four leading ophthalmologists explaining their success with RLRL in difficult cases previously showing poor treatment outcomes.
How does your axial length knowledge measure up? New research from the Lions Eye Institute is confirming continued axial growth in young adulthood and exploring longitudinal growth trajectories in children. Professor David Mackey AO, Dr Samantha Lee, and Dr Gareth Lingham describe their large population findings.
Further articles explore new technologies and treatments. Despite this growth in the field, Jagrut Lallu tackles the clinical inertia that still remains from his point of view as a World Council of Optometry Global Ambassador for myopia management as standard of care. Get settled in for this hot-off-the-press voyage through 2025’s world of myopia.
Dr Kate Gifford
Director, Myopia Profile
