Furthering its commitment to address the pandemic of childhood myopia, the World Council of Optometry (WCO) has approved a resolution advising optometrists to incorporate a standard of care for myopia management within their practices.
“Myopia is increasing at an alarming rate, as are the risks for vision impairment associated with the condition. With more than five billion people projected to be affected by myopia by 2050, the global optometric community must increase its efforts to combat this public health issue,” said Paul Folkesson, WCO president. “Significant research has identified a number of interventions to potentially control the progression of myopia. Establishing a standard of care that regularly and consistently applies these interventions, particularly at an early age, may prevent or delay the onset of myopia, or halt or slow its progression.”
The resolution defines the evidence-based standard of care as comprising three main components:
- Mitigation. Optometrists educating and counselling parents and childrenon lifestyle, dietary, and other factorsduring early and regular eye exams, to prevent or delay the onset of myopia.
- Measurement. Optometrists evaluating the status of a patient during regular comprehensive vision and eye health exams, such as measuring refractive error and axial length whenever possible.
- Management. Optometrists addressing patients’ needs of today by correcting myopia, while also providing evidence-based interventions (eg. contact lenses, spectacles, pharmaceuticals) slowing the progression of myopia, for improved quality of life and better eye health today and into the future.
The resolution shifts from simply correcting vision to managing the condition and also includes public education and early, frequent discussions with parents explaining what myopia is, the lifestyle factors that potentially impact myopia, increased risks to long-term ocular health and available approaches to manage myopia and slow its progression.
