An awareness campaign and educational resources have been launched by optometrist Jason Higginbotham and a team of eye care professionals (ECPs) who specialise in myopia.
The Myopia Focus online portal has been created to make parents more familiar with the condition and connect them with local optical practices.
Higginbotham said he launched the campaign because he was ‘concerned at the lack of understanding and support for what is going on with children’s eyes.’
He explained that increased use of screens, close work and lack of outdoor time were proven to have had a significant impact on myopia becoming an epidemic, which has all been compounded by the genetic element of myopia.
‘We need to highlight the urgent need for proactive myopia management. A personalised eye care plan can significantly decrease the progression of myopia in children by as much as 50% or more. As people are unaware that eye tests in schools are limited, unless parents act and have their child’s eyes tested, myopia may go undetected,’ Higginbotham said.
A Change.org campaign has been set up by Myopia Focus to achieve recognition of myopia as an ocular disease and receive funding from the NHS.
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