Myopia management, or control, has become an area of increasing interest within the optometric industry. Yet, contrary to the apparent enthusiasm among eye care professionals (ECPs), prescribing rates for at least some myopia management solutions have remained lower than expected.
Previous studies have attempted to gauge patient and practitioner interest in myopia management via surveys and focus groups. Such studies capture invaluable insights but tend to be population specific. Thus far, the use of larger datasets, or ‘big data’, to understand interest in myopia has remained limited.
What was the aim of this study?
The aim of this study was to understand global interest in myopia, methods of arresting myopia progression (contact lenses, spectacles, atropine, orthokeratology), and different types of refractive error (myopia, hyperopia, astigmatism). Unlike previous works, our study aimed to evaluate a much larger, global, dataset from which to draw conclusions.
We analysed data derived from the world’s largest search engine, Google. The data provided insights into searches that were undertaken, and the relative interest in myopia related topics, over the period 2004-23.
What do the results of this study show?
One of the surprising outcomes was the relative popularity of the search term ‘myopia control’ over ‘myopia management’. Anecdotally, we noticed there had been a recent shift in academic and clinical circles towards the term ‘myopia management’; we found several optometric professional bodies had adopted the term ‘myopia management’. Yet the data shows that globally, most individuals are searching for ‘myopia control’.
Another surprising finding was that globally, the terms ‘nearsighted’/’near-sighted’ and ‘shortsighted’/‘short-sighted’ were less popular than ‘myopia’.
Of all the myopia management solutions, recent data showed that, globally, atropine was the most popular search in the context of myopia. We also found individuals were searching for specific brand names; perhaps indicative of a growing awareness in the public of therapies for myopia.
When it came to refractive conditions, currently myopia was more popular than both hyperopia and astigmatism (see figure 1).
Figure 1: Relative global interest in different refractive conditions over time (each search captures both different language searches and alternative terminologies)
What are the limitations of the work?
In countries, such as China, there are other search engines that are more popular than Google. However, the database we analysed took account of the number of searches within a specific location and presented a ‘relative interest’ value.
Despite any possible limitations, the usefulness of Google search engine data has been well-established in many areas of healthcare research.
What further work still needs to be undertaken in this field?
Our study provides the foundation for further work in patient messaging. We now know where the interest lies, and the terminologies being used by the wider population. To build upon this work, the effectiveness of different communication approaches should be considered.
Figure 2: Queries related to myopia control and myopia management searches over 2004- August 2023
Why might this work be important to ECPs?
Within the profession, it may be commonplace to use specific terminologies: ‘myopia management’ when describing myopia therapies, ‘short-’ or ‘nearsightedness’ when talking to a patient, but in fact the data show that globally these terms are less popular than alternatives.
Conclusion
The findings challenge some of our commonly accepted beliefs around nomenclature and provide a basis for further research into public messaging about myopia. We hope this work will be relevant not only to ECPs, but policy makers and the wider industry.
- Dr Manbir Nagra is the optometry clinical editor for Optician and also works as an independent research and education consultant within the optical sector. Dr Nagra has a PhD in myopia, a Master’s in academic practice and is current programme lead for the BCLA’s myopia management certificate. She holds fellowships with the American Academy of Optometry and the BCLA.
- Prof James S Wolffsohn, a professor of optometry at Aston University since 2000, formerly deputy executive dean for life sciences and then associate pro-vice chancellor, is the head of the school of optometry and also head of the department of audiology. His main research areas are the development and evaluation of ophthalmic instrumentation, myopia management, contact lenses, intraocular lenses, presbyopia and the tear film.
- Dr Neema Ghorbani Mojarrad is an optometrist and lecturer at the University of Bradford. He is an editorial board member for the College of Optometrists’ Acuity magazine and an associate editor of BMJ Open Ophthalmology. He is the vice chair of the British and Irish University and College Contact Lens Educators (BUCCLE). Dr Mojarrad holds fellowships for the BCLA and IACLE. His research interests include myopia development and management, contact lenses and applied myopia genetics.
- Full findings were published can be found in the journal Optometry and Vision Science: https://journals.lww.com/optvissci/abstract/2024/01000/using_big_data_to_understand_interest_in_myopia.6.aspx
Reference
- Nagra, Manbir; Wolffsohn, James S.; Ghorbani-Mojarrad, Neema. Using big data to understand interest in myopia. Optometry and Vision Science 101(1):p 37-43, January 2024.
