1:30min
Myopia Profile, a clinical myopia management information centre for eye care professionals (ECPs), has launched a new, dedicated website and survey to drive engagement for Myopia Action Month.
The inaugural event, which takes place in September 2023, aims to encourage and empower ECPs globally to take effective action against the escalating prevalence of childhood myopia.
Developed by husband-and-wife optometrists Drs Kate and Paul Gifford from Brisbane, Myopia Profile has grown to be an internationally trusted, multi-channel educational resource dedicated to childhood myopia management.
‘Early intervention and elevating the standard of paediatric vision care are pivotal in improving outcomes for children with myopia,’ said Dr Kate Gifford, a former president of Optometry Australia.
‘Myopia Action Month encourages even more ECPs to be part of the solution by providing them with the educational materials and clinical practice tools necessary to start taking action now, or for those already involved, to have a greater impact.’
The new website (myopiaaction.com) is a central hub for exclusive news, resources and activities updates. Optometrists are encouraged to visit the site to sign up for timely e-newsletter updates leading up to the month-long initiative.
Have Your Say survey
In addition to the website, a ‘Have Your Say’ survey allows ECPs to share insights regarding the educational and clinical materials they would like to see come September. This input, Myopia Profile says, will be instrumental in shaping the event to cater to their needs and aspirations, ensuring that Myopia Action Month becomes a personalised and impactful experience for all participants. The assets that will be shaped by survey feedback include evidence-based and clinically relevant educational materials, practice tools and online resources.
To take the ‘Have Your Say’ survey, visit myopiaaction.com.
Giffords will present latest research on myopia management at O=MEGA23/WCO4
Drs Kate and Paul Gifford will speak about the latest evidence-base in myopia management at the upcoming O=MEGA23/WCO4 conference in September.
Their presentation ‘Unanswered questions in myopia management’ will also discuss approaches in understanding comparative efficacy of myopia control treatments, as well as determine what represents a successful long-term outcome in childhood myopia management.
With the prevalence of myopia increasing rapidly and projections indicating that by 2050, 50% of the world’s population will be myopic, with uncorrected myopia and high myopia a leading cause of blindness worldwide, the topic is of critical importance to the optometric profession.
‘Our presentation will outline the latest research on the knowns and the unknowns for several unanswered questions in myopia management. The knowns will be translated into actionable clinical advice and management pathways, and the unknowns detailed to support practitioner communication,’ Dr Kate Gifford said.
‘Mark will share further important insights on myopia management, particularly in the context of local practice where the opportunity to greatly limit the adverse effects of high myopia is larger than in many other countries.’
To find out more about O=MEGA23/WCO4, visit www.omega-event.org.