BHVI, an Australian not-for-profit organization with an international focus on vision research, has announced the launch of Myopia Awareness Week for 2022 – a global initiative relaunched in 2021, to bring attention to the growing epidemic of myopia in children across the world.
Myopia, also known as nearsightedness, is among the most common ocular disorders worldwide and is a leading cause of visual impairment in children.[1] Studies have predicted that the global prevalence of myopia will rise from 28% of the world’s population, or two billion people in 2010, to 50% of the world’s population, or five billion people in 2050.[2] Uncorrected myopia is a leading cause of blindness worldwide.[3]
This year, Myopia Awareness Week is from the 23rd to the 28th of May. A range of educational resources for practitioners, parents and advocates of myopia awareness will be provided by BHVI, with a focus on ‘Make your Eye Moves’ – a driver to engage in activities that promote eye health and reduce risk of myopia. Along with content for social media, globally recognized individuals from the eye care field will be providing their tips and recommendations for parents and children on “Eye Moves” that help reduce the risk of onset or progression of this debilitating ocular disorder. Resources and campaign information can be found at bhvi.org.
“The eye health of our young matters more than ever before. COVID-19 has significantly raised the stakes and increased the burden of myopia. But there is hope, with much happening in research, product development and professional education to meet the myopia challenge. We must engage from the front-lines – through eye care practitioners – to ensure they are able to educate their communities about myopia and manage and protect our children’s futures,” said Professor Padmaja Sankaridurg, Head of Myopia Program, BHVI. “We are delighted to continue to lead the way forward in myopia awareness and research at BHVI, and are thrilled at the continued support we receive from the profession and industry during Myopia Awareness Week- it is truly a global collective trying to move the needle on myopia management.”
[1] Mehta N, Wen A. Myopia: A Global Epidemic. Retina Today. September 2019.
[2] Holden BA, Fricke TR, Wilson DA, et al. Global Prevalence of Myopia and High Myopia and Temporal Trends from 2000 through 2050. Ophthalmology 2016;123(5):1036–42.
[3] Flaxman SR, Bourne RRA, Resnikoff S, et al. Global causes of blindness and distance vision impairment 1990–2020: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Lancet Glob Health 2017;5(12):e1221–e34.
