Building a future-proof practice with myopia management: Asia-Pacific Myopia Management Symposium Recap #3

In today's rapidly evolving landscape of eye care, building a future-proof practice requires a proactive approach to myopia management. Myopia is prevalent worldwide and poses significant challenges to both individuals and healthcare systems.¹ However, with advancements in technology and research, there are unprecedented opportunities to address myopia comprehensively. The final theme of the Asia-Pacific Myopia Management Symposium (APMMS) 2023 hosted by CooperVision explored building a future-proof practice with myopia management.  

This article is the third of a three-part series exploring the key themes of the symposium. 

Incorporating effective myopia management strategies not only benefits individual patients but also enhances the overall success and sustainability of eye care practices. By adopting proactive approaches to myopia management, practices can improve patient outcomes, differentiate themselves in a competitive market, and foster long-term patient loyalty. Some key ideas from the symposium were: 

• Early Intervention & Collaboration: To build a future-proof practice with myopia management, it's crucial to prioritize early intervention and recognize that every dioptre of myopia progression matters.² All eyecare professionals should offer myopia management, especially in those residing in regions with high myopia prevalence. Collaboration across eye care professionals, ophthalmologists, professional associations and governments, is crucial to drive change and increase access to myopia management services. By working together, practitioners can implement best practices and improve outcomes for future generations.
• Utilization of Real-World Data: The significance of utilizing real-world patient data to inform myopia management strategies was highlighted. Real-world data provides insights into how different treatments work for patients who may not have been included in clinical studies, such as younger children or those with specific conditions. By analysing real-world data, practitioners can tailor treatments more effectively and optimize outcomes for their patients.
• Personalized Treatment Approaches: Personalized treatment approaches in myopia management are important to implement. Each patient is unique, and factors such as pupil size, individual characteristics, and treatment response need to be considered when designing treatment plans. By adopting personalized approaches, practitioners can maximize treatment effectiveness and improve patient satisfaction and compliance.
• Decision Trees: Decision trees offer a structured approach to decision-making in myopia management. They provide practitioners with a visual representation of various treatment options and their potential outcomes based on patient characteristics. By using decision trees, practitioners can make informed decisions, improve efficiency, and ensure consistency in patient care.
• Education & Awareness: By educating parents about the risks of myopia and the benefits of early treatment, practitioners can empower them to make informed decisions about their children's eye health. Increasing awareness about myopia management can also reduce stigma and barriers to access, ultimately benefiting both the practice and the patient.
• Long-Term Impact & Patient-Centred Care: Understanding the enduring consequences of decisions made in myopia management can profoundly shape how practitioners approach their practice. Beyond simply correcting vision, myopia management encompasses safeguarding eye health and enhancing the well-being of future generations. Central to establishing thriving and enduring myopia practices is the emphasis on patient-centered care. Prioritizing the individual needs and preferences of patients cultivates trust, elevates satisfaction levels, and fosters enduring relationships with patients over time. 

In building a future-proof practice with myopia management, practitioners stand to benefit both their patients and their practice's success. These insights from the symposium can help us look ahead to navigating the evolving landscape of myopia management with confidence and adaptability, ensuring sustained excellence in patient care and practice resilience in the years to come.

Integrating AI into the myopia management processes can be highly beneficial. AI systems can analyse vast datasets, identify patterns, and offer personalized treatment recommendations. AI is still relatively new in the field of myopia management; four subsets of AI that are currently being explored in myopia management are: 

1. Machine Learning (ML): Machine learning enables computers to learn from data and make predictions or decisions without explicit programming. It has been useful in myopia prediction, and in understanding how visual behaviours relate to myopia onset and progression.^3,4
2. Deep Learning (DL): Deep learning uses artificial neural networks with multiple layers to automatically discover patterns and representations in data for tasks like image recognition and natural language understanding. It has been applied to retinal fundus photography and can detect myopia from this. ^5,6
3. Genetics: Genetics refers to the study of genes and their role in traits and diseases, including how genetic factors influence the development and progression of conditions like myopia. Ongoing research is still early stages.³
4. Natural Language Processing (NLP): Natural language processing enables computers to understand, interpret, and generate human language, facilitating tasks such as language translation, sentiment analysis, and text summarization. Its use in telehealth consultations in myopia management scenarios is still being explored.⁷

 The utilization of AI in myopia management represents a promising frontier with the potential to revolutionize how we approach and practice optometry. By leveraging machine learning, deep learning, genetics, and natural language processing, practitioners can gain deeper insights into myopia prediction, progression, and treatment response. However, it's essential to acknowledge that AI in myopia management is still in its early stages, with ongoing research and exploration needed to unlock its full potential.

Future-proofing your practice by including myopia management is essential for staying ahead of the curve, meeting the evolving needs of patients, and ensuring long-term success in an increasingly competitive healthcare landscape. It is important that eyecare practitioners stay aware of emerging technologies, research developments, and best practices in myopia management to provide optimal care for their patients and maintain relevance in the field. The Asia-Pacific Myopia Management Symposium presented emerging trends and the newest research on best practices, showcasing how rapidly the field of myopia management is progressing and underscoring the importance of staying informed and adaptable to provide the highest quality care to patients.