The expert panel argues that myopia has reached a tipping point, with prevalence accelerating far beyond historical projections. By 2050, an estimated 52% of the global population will be myopic – double the proportion in 2010 – representing hundreds of millions of affected children (1). Beyond the clinical burden, uncorrected myopia cost the global economy US$244 billion in lost productivity in 2015 alone, highlighting the economic consequences of untreated refractive error (2).
Despite mounting evidence and the availability of effective interventions, access to pediatric vision screening and myopia management remains highly uneven. Many health systems still lack formal screening programs, and uptake of evidence-based treatment strategies is inconsistent, particularly in underserved communities.
To address this gap, the panel outlined four system-level recommendations for governments and health authorities:
1. Mandate universal pediatric vision screening, beginning in the preschool years.
2. Prioritize myopia management training in continuing education for eye care professionals.
3. Integrate healthy visual habits—including mandated outdoor time and myopia awareness—into school curricula and community programs.
4. Embed myopia action within broader public health policies, including digital wellbeing, childhood health equity, and universal eye care coverage.
Several global health leaders voiced strong support. Speaking on behalf of WHO, Dr. Stuart Keel emphasized that "childhood myopia has become a major public health concern demanding integrated, people-centered approaches at every level of care," and noted alignment with the WHO SPECS 2030 initiative. Professor Serge Resnikoff, Chair of the International Myopia Institute, stressed that “incremental progress is not enough,” and that coordinated global implementation is now crucial to "protect children's sight and safeguard public health."
The collective statement also highlighted examples of rapid progress. Professor Dominique Bremond-Gignac cited France’s recent policy actions as proof that early, decisive national strategies can accelerate the adoption of myopia management in clinical practice.
HOYA Vision Care’s involvement reflects its broader role in global eye-health initiatives, including contributions to WHO SPECS 2030 and its own “One Vision” program designed to support sustainable community eye care.
The consensus statement concludes with a direct appeal: protecting children’s sight requires immediate, coordinated action across health systems, schools, and communities. On World Children’s Day, the authors call on policymakers and clinicians alike to embed childhood myopia prevention and treatment into the core of public health planning — ensuring that no child’s future is limited by an avoidable loss of vision.
References
- BA Holden et al., “Global Prevalence of Myopia and High Myopia and Temporal Trends from 2000 through 2050,” Ophthalmology, 123, 1036 (2016). PMID: 26875007.
- Brien Holden Vision Institute, “Uncorrected myopia cost global economy US$244 billion in lost productivity in 2015,” (2019). Available at: http://bit.ly/3LNRwg1.
