Global summit highlights urgent need for coordinated myopia control strategies

The World Health Organization has long identified myopia as a growing public health concern, yet efforts to address the condition vary widely across regions. At the Global Myopia Public Health Summit, held in September 2024 by the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness, Asia Optometric Congress, and Aier Eye Hospital Group, experts underscored the need for stronger, coordinated action.

Discussions highlighted 4 key conclusions: reliable population-based data on myopia prevalence are still lacking in many parts of the world; awareness, affordability, and ongoing professional education remain major barriers; while effective interventions exist, their cost-effectiveness requires closer evaluation; and government-led initiatives, such as China’s school-based vision screenings and promotion of outdoor activity, provide a model for other nations.

The summit emphasized that without broader strategies, the global rise of myopia will continue to strain both individual and societal health outcomes.

Reference
Pan W, Morgan I, Flitcroft I, et al. The need to address the myopia pandemic: summary report of the global myopia public health summit 2024. Glob Health Res Policy. 2025;10(1):45. doi: 10.1186/s41256-025-00445-7. PMID: 40983945; PMCID: PMC12455837.