Myopia viewpoint: Counting the cost

I have been an optometrist and dispensing optician for over 30 years and the threat posed by progressive myopia is the biggest eye care issue I have witnessed within that time.  

There are several key problems right now with the myopia management sector. These include funding therapy, public knowledge and professional engagement.  

The research and investment that has gone into understanding myopia and developing therapies has been immense.  

The time, money and intellectual effort behind myopia management theory and practice is perhaps unprecedented. It is not surprising, therefore, that many of the therapies are expensive.  

The requirement to produce a return on investment means that products, which may not necessarily be expensive to manufacture, are still very costly for practitioners and thus patients (and their parents).