Myopia, The Silent Pandemic We Need To Talk About

Background

Though myopia is the most prevalent eye problem worldwide, affecting about 1.5 billion people, many believe people do not care much about it (Holden et al., 2016). If we’ve learned anything from global health challenges, it’s that early awareness and proactive prevention are often more effective than reactive treatment. Myopia, or nearsightedness, is a refractive defect characterized by a spherical equivalent refraction (SER) of < −0.5 D (diopter), typically emerging in young childhood to early adolescence. Deterioration of myopia can lead to many ocular complications and irreversible blindness (Haarman et al., 2020; Saw, 2006). This lesson holds particularly true for myopia, a growing but often overlooked vision condition that’s quietly affecting children across the country. If we start recognizing myopia as a pandemic, then it’s high time we approached it with the urgency and holistic strategy it deserves—starting with prevention, not just treatment.

Prevention Starts at Home

Unlike other health conditions, myopia doesn’t always come with obvious symptoms— especially in children. The duration of outdoor activity is a crucial factor linked to the onset of myopia in school-aged children (Guo et al., 2015; Wildsoet et al., 2019; Wu et al., 2015). Kids are remarkably adaptable. They rarely complain about blurry vision or strain because they don’t know what “normal” vision is supposed to look like. This natural adaptability means parents and caregivers may not even realize there's an issue.

In many households, there's a prevailing belief—often passed down from well-meaning grandparents—that children’s vision will simply take care of itself. Numerous studies have demonstrated that spending time on a smartphone was significantly associated with myopia onset (Lanca & Saw, 2020; Toh et al., 2019; Ye et al., 2018). But just like any other aspect of health, children's eyes require regular check-ups and guided care. That’s where behavior and habit management come in.

Myopia prevention isn't about waiting for a problem to arise. It's about fostering healthy habits early on. Encouraging outdoor play, managing screen time, and ensuring proper lighting during reading or homework are simple yet powerful steps (McCullough et al., 2016). There is no substitute for quality time and attentive parenting when it comes to supporting children's visual development.

Optometrists: The Frontline of Myopia Awareness

For optometrists, myopia management doesn't begin in the exam room—it starts in the community. Every conversation, every school visit, and every parent interaction is an opportunity to educate and create awareness. In a country where many parents don’t know when to schedule their child's first eye test, optometrists can make all the difference. Notably, left-behind children might develop serious social problems in the future in both psychological and physiological aspects as they are often left unattended (Chang et al., 2018).

The American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) has laid out a clear vision screening schedule that should be common knowledge among parents:

·         Newborns: Eyes should be checked by a doctor or trained professional for any basic indicators of eye health.

·         6 to 12 months: A second screening is recommended during the first year.

·         12 to 36 months: Assess for healthy eye development.

·         3 to 5 years: Test for visual acuity and eye alignment.

·         6 years and older: Children should receive annual eye exams.

These milestones aren’t just boxes to check—they're critical touchpoints for detecting and managing issues early.

Treatment Is Not Enough

While prevention relies heavily on awareness and behavioral shifts, treatment of myopia is more technical—dispensing the right lenses, offering solutions like orthokeratology or atropine drops, and monitoring progression (Balasopoulou et al., 2017; Zhang et al., 2025). Preventative measurements play a key role in myopic development (He et al., 2022). It appears that being outdoors is more important than being active since no association has been reported between indoor sports and myopia (Rose et al., 2008). But if we're only treating myopia, we’re missing half the battle. Prevention and education need to be as deeply rooted in practice as prescribing glasses.

This is the moment for optometrists to lead the charge. Through proactive counselling, community outreach, and personalised care, they can help reduce the burden of myopia, one family, one child at a time. Because when it comes to children’s vision, doing nothing is not an option (Carlsson-Paige & Lantieri, 2005). Awareness is the first step. Action must follow. We are the first line of defense in a silent pandemic that has long-term consequences if ignored. Let’s raise awareness. Let’s push prevention. Let’s lead the change, because we aren’t just prescribing lenses—we’re protecting future.

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