The Centre for Ocular Research & Education’s (CORE) latest issue of Contact Lens Update, titled ‘The science of myopia control: what every ECP should know’ is available for free online for eyecare practitioners wanting to stay up to date with the latest research findings.  

“We are in the midst of a global myopia epidemic and public health crisis. Its prevalence continues to increase, with an estimated 50% of the world’s population projected to become myopic by the year 2050. High myopia is associated with the risk of serious ocular health problems which can lead to vision loss, such as retinal detachment, myopic maculopathy and glaucoma,” said Jill Woods, head of clinical research at CORE.  

CORE lead clinical scientist and clinical professor Debbie Jones recaps the September 2024 International Myopia Conference in the issue’s editorial. Her conference highlights include ways of identifying people at risk of developing myopia, barriers to increasing the amount of time spent outdoors and new potential treatments.  

The feature article is written by Vishakha Thakrar, an optometrist and owner of a specialty contact lens practice in Ontario, Canada. She outlines the findings of a systematic review investigating the intervention-dependent rebound effect which can occur after stopping myopia control treatment. The review presents studies which examined a range of optical, pharmaceutical and low-level red-light therapies, including spectacles and soft contact lenses designed for myopia control and ortho-k. 

The conference highlight is contributed by Lisa Ostrin, associate professor at the University of Houston College of Optometry, Texas. The abstract summarises a presentation from last year’s International Myopia Conference, describing the safety profile of an instrument used for low-level red-light therapy.  

Optometrist Oliver Woo, founder and chief clinical director of his eponymous ortho-k and myopia management clinic in Sydney, presents the issue’s clinical insight column, focusing on why it is important to customise the replacement frequency of ortho-k lenses to each patient.