Asian Trends in Attitudes and Strategies for Myopia Management in Clinical Practice
Clara Martínez-Pérez
ISEC Lisboa—Instituto de Educação e Ciência de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal.
Jacinto Santodomingo-Rubido *
Global R&D, Menicon Co., Ltd, Nagoya, Japan.
César Villa-Collar
Faculty of Biomedical and Health Science, Universidad Europea de Madrid, Madrid, Spain.
Yasmin Whayeb
College of Health & Life Sciences, Aston University, Birmingham, United Kingdom.
James S Wolffsohn
College of Health & Life Sciences, Aston University, Birmingham, United Kingdom.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Aims: To assess trends in attitudes and strategies for myopia management among Asian eye care practitioners between 2015 and 2024, focusing on concern levels, treatment preferences, prescribing patterns, and barriers.
Study Design: Cross-sectional, online survey-based study.
Place and Duration of Study: Data were collected from 2,473 practitioners across multiple Asian countries in surveys conducted in 2015, 2019, 2022, and 2024.
Methodology: A 15-item questionnaire, translated into 18 languages, was distributed via professional organizations to optometrists, ophthalmologists, and other practitioners. Items evaluated concern about childhood myopia, perceived treatment efficacy, prescribing frequency, initiation thresholds, and barriers. Non-parametric analyses compared responses between countries and over time.
Results: Concern about childhood myopia was consistently high, peaking in 2019 and 2022 (mean 9.0±1.5 out of 10) and slightly declining in 2024 (8.5±1.9, p<0.05 out of 10). Vietnam reported the highest concern (10.0±0.2) and Turkey the lowest (7.4±1.9, p<0.001). In 2024, combination therapy (orthokeratology + atropine) was rated most effective (64.0±24.3%), followed by orthokeratology (56.1±22.6%) and outdoor time (48.7±26.7%). Single-vision spectacles declined in use, while myopia control spectacles, contact lenses, and atropine increased. Minimum thresholds for initiating treatment were lowest in China (−0.5±0.5D) and highest in Turkey (−1.6±0.9D, p≤0.001). Main barriers were cost (30.4%), accessibility (14.3%), and safety concerns (12.7%). Myopia management enhanced patient loyalty (67.5%) and job satisfaction (75.2%), with variable impact on revenue (53.4%).
Conclusion: Evidence-based myopia control strategies are increasingly adopted across Asia, especially in China and Singapore. However, economic and accessibility barriers remain. Proactive myopia management improves patient retention and professional satisfaction, underscoring the need for broader implementation and support.
Keywords: Myopia control, eye care practitioners, paediatric myopia, children, treatment