May 5, 2022 — BHVI, an Australian not-for-profit organization with an international focus on vision research, has announced Myopia Awareness Week 2022, held May 23-28. This global initiative relaunched in 2021 to bring attention to the growing epidemic of myopia in children across the world.
 
During Myopia Awareness Week, BHVI will provide a range of educational resources for practitioners, parents, and advocates of myopia awareness. The focus is “Make Your Eye Moves,” a call to engage in activities that promote eye health and reduce the risk of myopia. Along with content for social media, globally recognized individuals from the eyecare industry will provide tips and recommendations regarding “Eye Moves.” 
 
“Covid-19 has significantly raised the stakes and increased the burden of myopia. We must engage from the front lines, through eyecare practitioners, to ensure they are able to educate their communities about myopia…and protect our children’s futures,” says professor Padmaja Sankaridurg, head of the myopia program at BHVI. “We are thrilled at the continued support we receive from the profession and industry during Myopia Awareness Week. It is truly a global collective trying to move the needle on myopia management.”
 
Myopia is among the most common ocular disorders worldwide and is a leading cause of visual impairment in children; uncorrected myopia is a leading cause of blindness worldwide. Studies have predicted that the global prevalence of myopia will rise from 28% of the world’s population, or 2 billion people in 2010, to 50% of the world’s population, or 5 billion people in 2050.
 
Learn more: bhvi.org.