Myopia Management Algorithm Article: Navigating Solutions through Flowcharts

Myopia is increasingly prevalent worldwide, emerging as one of the leading causes of blindness and visual impairment. The significant global burden of myopia necessitates collaborative efforts to redefine our approach to this condition. A wealth of knowledge on myopia exists, offering insights that can be applied to prevent and slow the progression of this refractive disorder.

To raise awareness and provide guidance to ophthalmologists and other eye care professionals on controlling axial elongation in children, international and European summaries have already been published.

The International Myopia Institute (IMI), comprising 85 multidisciplinary experts in the field, released a series of white papers in 2019. These papers covered the definition, classification, genetics, and pathogenesis of myopia, along with interventions for controlling this refractive error. The comprehensive content included findings from experimental and clinical studies, encompassing results from randomized controlled trials. Building upon this scientific groundwork, the IMI further enhanced its work in 2021 and 2023. The subsequent publications delved into areas such as pathologic myopia, myopia in young adults, and the role of the choroid in this context.

The rise in myopia prevalence and its associated consequences have been extensively documented in East Asian nations, where the increase has been most pronounced. However, in recent decades, Europe has also witnessed a surge in myopia prevalence, reaching approximately 45–50% in the 25–29-year-old age group. As a result, Europe is increasingly recognizing the importance of myopia, acknowledging it as both a public health concern and a significant socioeconomic burden.

Acknowledging the pressing need for action in Europe, the European Society of Ophthalmology (SOE) released an updated guidance on myopia management in 2021. In collaboration with 26 experts from 12 European countries and in cooperation with the IMI. This guide provides accessible insights into the causes and genetic factors of myopia. It also delves into practical details on myopia’s prevalence, risk factors, and available prevention and treatment measures, specifically tailored for the European audience. This publication received 40,078 views, downloads, and 59 citations.

In conjunction with these efforts, the European Journal of Ophthalmology recently published the Myopia Management Algorithm article, serving as an extension to this earlier publication mentioned above.

The purpose of this algorithm article is to assist eye care professionals in choosing and putting into practice a myopia treatment plan and strategy that works for each kid. Current information is presented as flowcharts that illustrate decision points and possible resolution routes.

The new article was developed by a wide group of professionals in myopia care (ophthalmologists, optometrists, researchers), including 25 core writers and 16 members of the SOE Myopia Consensus Group. The paper’s content was approved by the SOE Executive Board.

The article is open access and freely available on the website of the European Journal of Ophthalmology using the following link: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/11206721231219532

This additional resource further refines the understanding of myopia management and complements the comprehensive information provided in the 2021 update by the European Society of Ophthalmology. Together, these publications aim to equip ophthalmologists and eye care professionals across Europe with practical insights and guidance for effectively addressing the increasing prevalence of myopia.