Australian Myopia Profile and German optical device developer Oculus have partnered to promote the Myopia Master tool and increase eyecare professionals’ (ECPs’) knowledge and clinical confidence in measurement and interpretation of axial length in myopia.
Clinical interest and questions on measurement of axial length in myopia management has grown by 470% from mid-2019 to mid-2020 and a further 35% in the last half of 2020, according to the partners. Although measurement of the axial length and growth of the eye in childhood myopia is the recognised gold standard for research studies, instrument access and clarity on how to utilise the data remain barriers to uptake in clinical practice, said Dr Kate Gifford, lead author on the International Myopia Institute (IMI) Clinical Management Guidelines report and director of Myopia Profile.
“The axial length of the myopic eye appears to be more directly linked to the lifelong risk of eye disease and vision impairment due to increasing myopia, and hence should be our key modification goal in clinical myopia management. In our 2019 landmark reports, the IMI recognised the necessity of axial length measurement in myopia research, but also the numerous barriers to widespread clinical uptake and hence noted axial length as a desirable but not yet necessary element of clinical myopia management.”
In response to ECPs’ needs, Oculus developed the Myopia Master in 2019 to effectively manage myopia, combining autorefraction, axial length and keratometry measurement with risk and output analysis software for clinical management and patient education. “We aim to educate ECPs about the importance of axial length measurement but also learn vice versa. The partnership with Myopia Profile is best placed to accomplish that,” said David Kern, Myopia Master product manager.
Myopia Profile is a multi-platform digital suite for myopia management with over three million active engagements per year across platforms. It was founded in 2016 by optometrist husband-and-wife team, Drs Paul and Kate Gifford.
