The Future of Myopia Management: Asia-Pacific Myopia Management Symposium 2024 Recap #3

The Asia-Pacific Myopia Management Symposium (APMMS) 2024 was championed by CooperVision and held in Seoul, Korea in late October, gathering local and global experts to explore the advancements and future directions in myopia management. All speakers are pictured in the cover image, above. This third instalment in our APMMS 2024 recap series delves into how these pioneering strategies are shaping a more effective and personalized approach to managing myopia, setting a promising direction for future clinical practice.

• Read the APMMS 2024 Recap #1 on Paradigm Shifts in Understanding Myopia HERE
• Read the APMMS 2024 Recap #2 on Gold Standard in Myopia Interventions HERE

With rising myopia rates across Asia and globally,¹ discussion focused on innovative solutions, from Artificial Intelligence (AI) enhanced ortho-k lens fitting systems to government-led policies and proactive parental involvement. The symposium also highlighted the potential of digitalization and tailored clinical practices to enhance myopia control outcomes:

• AI in Ortho-K Lens Fitting: An AI-powered ortho-k lens evaluation system streamlines the complex fitting process, particularly beneficial for beginners navigating diverse lens designs and parameters in myopia control. By predicting axial length changes based on patient data, simulating outcomes across ortho-k designs, and generating personalized lens parameters, the system enhances both accuracy and accessibility. Additionally, it can interpret topographical data and provide detailed predictions for fitting and expected axial length growth, making it a comprehensive tool for improving ortho-k precision and efficacy in myopia management.
• Government-Led Policies and Initiatives: China’s rapidly growing economy and the surge in smartphone use are attributed to the marked increase in myopia prevalence. COVID-19 lockdowns intensified this issue, with reduced outdoor time and increased indoor study.² Notably, awareness of myopia correction remains low: 54.8% of children are uncorrected, 31.1% undercorrected, and only 14.1% fully corrected.³ To combat this, China’s government has implemented a nationwide approach that includes annual screenings, educational reforms to reduce homework and limit after-school tutoring, and volume-based procurement policies to lower treatment costs. Innovative solutions like outdoor scene classrooms (featuring wallpapered natural scenery – see Figure 1) have also been introduced to reduce myopia onset, particularly for pre-myopes, although their effectiveness is limited for those already myopic.⁴
• Parental Influence on Myopia: Parental behaviors are a key factor in managing myopia risk, particularly through encouraging outdoor time for younger children. A survey among 3 to 18-year-olds found high rates of myopia that increased with age—5.3% in kindergarten, 42.9% in elementary school, and 82.4% in high school. Parental involvement tends to decrease as children grow older, but a reciprocal effect exists: when a child is diagnosed with myopia, parents often increase supportive behaviors.⁵ Regular eye exams are recommended as opportunities to raise parental awareness and promote proactive behaviors, which can mitigate severe myopia in later years even if they cannot fully counter teenage tendencies.
• Digitalization in Myopia Management: Digital diagnostic instruments, such as the OCULUS Myopia Master and Topcon MYAH, are cited by leading clinicians as transforming myopia management by streamlining data collection, enhancing patient education, and improving adherence to treatment. These tools automate measurements and offer visual aids that make it easier for patients and parents to understand myopia progression, thereby boosting engagement and compliance. 

These innovative approaches demonstrate how the future of myopia management is moving toward precision, accessibility, and inclusivity in treatment strategies. By integrating AI and digital tools practitioners have the capacity to tailor myopia management to individual needs more effectively. With continued collaboration across clinicians and the government, the field of myopia management will be well-equipped to meet the challenges posed by rising myopia rates, ensuring better outcomes for patients of all ages.

Despite significant advancements in myopia management, several areas remain under exploration. The effects of initiatives like outdoor scene classrooms in China are promising for reducing myopia onset in young children, but the limited effectiveness in already myopic individuals highlights the need for interventions that address varying stages of myopia progression. Parental influence is also recognized as crucial, yet sustaining parental engagement as children grow older continues to be challenging, especially in the face of increased screen time and academic pressures.

Although there are obvious benefits, the integration potential of AI and big data analysis in clinical settings faces challenges, including data security, infrastructure limitations, medico-legal ethics, and compatibility issues between different devices. While digitalization has significant potential to advance myopia control practices, careful and realistic implementation is crucial to ensure reliability and build trust. As these technologies evolve, further research is needed to address these limitations and optimize their effectiveness in clinical practice.

The evolving landscape of myopia management provides practitioners with new tools and strategies to offer more personalized, effective care. AI-driven ortho-k fitting systems (where available) and digital diagnostic instruments specifically designed for myopia management can streamline the clinical workflow, improve accuracy, and engage patients more effectively. Practitioners should also recognize the value of parental involvement in encouraging outdoor time and routine eye exams for early intervention, while adapting tailored communication strategies as children enter adolescence. Furthermore, understanding and leveraging government-led initiatives, where they exist, can help clinicians align with broader public health goals, such as supporting parents in encouraging healthy visual behaviors at home. By embracing these innovations thoughtfully and staying updated on ongoing research, clinicians can be at the forefront of myopia management, equipped to deliver evidence-based, patient-centred care.