(PRESS RELEASE) BUDAPEST, HUNGARY — The European Society of Ophthalmology (SOE), in collaboration with specialist experts in myopia management, the International Myopia Institute (IMI), has released updated guidance on myopia management to drive European awareness of the debilitating ocular condition.
Predicted to become the most common cause of irreversible vision impairment and blindness worldwide and in Europe, the prevalence of myopia is expected to grow from 2.6 billion people in 2020, to 4.9 billion in 2050. The introduction of and education in myopia control interventions are urgent, with the European Society of Ophthalmology recognising that myopia in Europe is fast becoming an advanced public health issue. 45 to 50% of 25–29-year-old Europeans are already affected. Myopia is not, as some believe, a health crisis isolated only to East Asia.
“The dissemination of myopia management guidance is an important step in influencing public health policy,” said Professor Serge Resnikoff, chair of the IMI. “With the coming together of expert bodies like the European Society of Ophthalmology, and leading publications such as the European Journal of Ophthalmology, we will move faster towards preventing the spread and progression of myopia across Europe, where industry experts are fast realising the dangers of myopia and its impact, regardless of culture or ethnicity.”
Published in the European Journal of Ophthalmology, this new expert review provides updated guidance in control measures for reducing myopia onset and myopia progression, covering:
- pathogenesis and the genetics of myopia;
- epidemiology;
- risk factors; and
- preventive and treatment options.
“We would like to summarize the current knowledge in this rapidly developing field and help European eye care specialists to reduce myopia onset and slow down its progression through effective interventions,” added Professor János Németh, scientific deputy director of the Department of Ophthalmology, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary.
With the soon to be released second series of IMI Whitepapers in 2021, the continued production and publication of critical advisory and myopia management guidance material produced in collaboration with leading experts and groups will continue to drive awareness and advise public health policy as the IMI works to halt the growing trend of myopia.
The new European guidance review is available for access here. The 2019 IMI IOVS published white-papers, and clinical summaries, are freely available at myopiainstitute.org.