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Optometry Australia member and Postdoctoral Research Fellow in the QUT Centre for Vision and Eye Research, Dr Rohan Hughes, has secured significant funding from the American Academy of Optometry Foundation (AAOF) to investigate the early warning signs of myopia in Australian children.
The first of its kind in Australia to investigate pre-myopia, Dr Hughes’ research project, “Characteristics Associated with Eye Growth in Pre-Myopic Children,” will be conducted in partnership with fellow QUT researchers Dr Emily Woodman-Pieterse, Professor Steve Vincent and Professor Scott Read.
The two-year study will aim to uncover factors that may influence excessive eye growth and the onset of myopia in children with pre-myopia.
‘This funding is significant for me personally. As an early career researcher, the opportunity to lead a study that I’ve conceived and developed is phenomenal. We hope to uncover clinical findings that may help clinicians predict which kids are at imminent risk of rapid eye growth and myopia development and, ideally, intervene earlier,’ said Dr Hughes.
A timely look at rising myopia rates
Myopia rates are rising globally and Australia’s no exception.
More kids are spending time on screens and less time outdoors and the long-term impact on eye health is becoming increasingly concerning.
While myopia control treatments are gaining ground in Aussie optometry practices, there’s still a lot unknown about how and why myopia develops, especially in the early stages.
‘Most children start out long-sighted, and this reduces gradually with age. But in some, this reduction happens too quickly, which indicates that a child may be ‘pre-myopic’; a stage that hasn’t been studied in detail in Australia before,’ Dr Hughes explained.
Breaking down the study
The study will roll out in two phases:
- Phase 1: Vision screenings across Brisbane schools to determine current rates of refractive error and pre-myopia in children.
- Phase 2: A year-long longitudinal study following children aged 6–12 who are identified as pre-myopic. Researchers will track eye growth, vision changes and lifestyle factors like screen time, sleep, diet and time outdoors.
Dr Hughes’ team will use cutting-edge tech including imaging tools to analyse the structure and optics of the eye, and sensors to capture visual behaviours and environmental exposure.
Real-world impact
Dr Hughes hopes the research will deliver practical outcomes that can shape clinical decision-making and potentially influence best-practice guidelines for childhood myopia.
‘We’re aiming to provide insights that can help optometrists pinpoint the appropriate time to intervene before myopia takes hold. The more we understand about what drives the early phase of rapid eye growth, the better equipped we are to delay or prevent progression.’
The funding, provided through the AAOF and sponsored by Meta’s Reality Labs Research group through the 2024 Meta Myopia Award, will support equipment, research salaries and the bulk of the data collection work.
‘I’m so grateful to the AAOF and Meta’s Reality Labs Research for backing this project, and I also want to acknowledge the rest of the incredible research team who’ll be contributing to this work with me.’
Dr Hughes hopes the project is just the beginning in sparking fresh understanding in the field of paediatric myopia and will begin recruitment in the next few months.
‘Every time I see a myopic child in practice, or answer a question I can’t fully explain, I’m reminded of why this research matters. Hopefully this work brings us one step closer to those answers.’
Anyone interested in finding out more about the research project can contact Dr Hughes.
Driving collective impact
Dr Hughes’ research also comes at a time when awareness of childhood myopia is more critical than ever. Optometry Australia’s Off Screens. Outside. Optometrist campaign is helping to shine a national spotlight on the growing issue of childhood myopia by highlighting the importance of earlier detection and better management when it comes to mitigating the risks and long-term impact that unmanaged myopia poses.
Find out more about our campaign here.