(Clockwise from top left) Contact Lens Update Issue 81 authors Debbie Jones, Vishakha Thakrar, OD, Lisa Ostrin and Oliver Woo, OD.

WATERLOO, Ontario—The Centre for Ocular Research & Education (CORE) at the School of Optometry and Vision Science, University of Waterloo, announced the publication of its myopia-themed issue,“The Science of Myopia Control: What Every ECP Should Know," in Contact Lens Update. The bimonthly publication is available at no charge by visiting ContactLensUpdate.com. “We are in the midst of a global myopia epidemic and public health crisis. Its prevalence continues to increase, with an estimated 50 percent of the world’s population projected to become myopic by the year 2050," said Jill Woods, head of clinical research at CORE.

Woods continued, "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. It is crucial for practitioners to be aware of the latest scientific findings to ensure their patients are given the highest standard of care. Intervention to slow myopia’s progression is particularly important for children, preventing them from becoming highly myopic as they age."
 
Debbie Jones, clinical professor and lead clinical scientist at CORE, summarized the 2024 International Myopia Conference in an editorial. Her conference highlights include detailing methods for identifying people at risk of developing myopia, potential barriers for increasing the amount of time spent outdoors, and new potential treatments such as colored light therapies, pharmaceutical treatment using a caffeine derivative, and optical films for spectacle lenses.
 
The feature article, written by optometrist and practice owner Vishakha Thakrar, outlines the findings of a systematic review investigating the intervention-dependent rebound effect that may occur after stopping myopia control treatment. The review presents studies examining a range of optical, pharmaceutical and low-level red light therapies, including spectacles and soft contact lenses designed for myopia control as well as orthokeratology.
 
A conference highlight is contributed by Lisa Ostrin, associate professor at the University of Houston College of Optometry. The abstract summarizes a presentation from the 2024 International Myopia Conference describing the safety profile of an instrument used for low-level, red light therapy. The work compares the emitted irradiance level to criteria established by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) to determine the class of laser, instrument group and maximum permitted exposure time.
 
Oliver Woo, OD, founder and chief clinical director of an orthokeratology and myopia management clinic in Sydney, Australia, writes the issue’s clinical insight column. This case report details a young patient’s journey through different therapies to manage her myopia, with Dr. Woo delving into why it is important to customize the replacement frequency of orthokeratology lenses for each patient.