Dec. 13, 2023 — The Vision Council (TVC) has published its latest research report, Focused inSights 2023: Parental Perspectives on Myopia, to highlight awareness and experiences with childhood myopia among parents. From a survey of 2,209 parents with children ages 5 to 16 years old, the findings reveal a significant gap in parental understanding of childhood myopia.
 
Despite the World Health Organization recognizing myopia as a significant public health concern, survey responses indicate only 2 in 10 parents have heard about the childhood myopia epidemic, signaling a need for eyecare providers to better educate families about the condition’s causes and risks. While approximately 75% of parents are generally familiar with myopia as a condition, knowledge regarding the rise in childhood myopia, along with strategies to help prevent children from becoming myopic, is lacking.
 
The following are some key findings from TVC’s report:
 

• Two in 5 parents report knowing exactly what myopia is, and 1 in 3 have a general sense of the term.
• Only 13% recognized lack of outdoor time as a risk factor for myopia onset.
• Increased screen time and genetics were recognized as risk factors by 57% of respondents.
• Three-quarters of parents who report an awareness of myopia say they have not recently seen, read, or heard something about the childhood myopic epidemic.
• Thirty-seven percent of parents understand vision loss is a complication associated with myopia.
• Three in 10 respondents have a child who has been diagnosed with myopia. Of those, 62% report their child’s eye doctor suggested a treatment plan, and 42% say their child was given bifocal/progressive glasses to manage the condition.
• Eighty-three percent feel the treatment of their child’s myopia has been effective, and 87% feel the treatment is easy to comply with.

 
The report is available here as a complimentary download for members and for nonmembers to purchase.
 
For more information: thevisioncouncil.org.