Once considered a minor refractive error, myopia is now recognised as a leading cause of visual impairment, prompting urgent calls for action from the international eye care community. Central to this movement is the World Council of Optometry (WCO), which in 2021 established myopia management as the global standard of care.
Its three-pillar approach – ‘Mitigation, Measurement, and Management’ – has become a rallying point for optometrists, educators, and policymakers working to shift clinical practice from awareness to intervention. As the prevalence of myopia climbs worldwide, the message is clear: correcting vision isn’t enough; we must intervene early and manage proactively to safeguard long-term eye health.
To support this shift, CooperVision teamed up with WCO to launch the Myopia Management Navigator13 – a practical, evidence-informed tool designed to guide optometrists through patient assessment, treatment planning, and communication strategies. It’s part of a broader push to equip practitioners with the resources needed to take action confidently and consistently.
Last year, the WCO appointed four global ambassadors to further elevate this mission: Professor Nicola Logan (UK), Dr Síofra Harrington (Ireland), Dr Ashley Wallace Tucker (USA), and myself from New Zealand.
Through clinical leadership and global outreach, this growing advocacy network signals a powerful shift, from reactive care to preventative myopia management worldwide.
As well as supporting the work of the WCO, CooperVision Australia and New Zealand’s global myopia commitment supports work undertaken by the Global Myopia Awareness Coalition (GMAC). Formed in early 2019, GMAC is composed of leading ophthalmic companies and eye health associations that agree on a clear need for greater public awareness about childhood myopia. It also serves as an advisory board under the WCO.
REAL-WORLD IMPACT
Behind the clinical evidence and global frameworks are thousands of individual stories; children whose futures are being changed by timely myopia intervention. As more optometrists adopt evidence-based myopia management, real-world outcomes are reinforcing what the science already tells us: early action works.
In practices across Australia, New Zealand, and beyond, clinicians are seeing first-hand how children on myopia management plans experience slower progression and fewer long-term risks.
As more families are educated and engaged in the treatment process, adherence improves, and trust grows. Parents begin to understand that myopia is not just about vision – it’s about protecting their child’s long-term eye health. Clinicians, in turn, are empowered by both the tools and the tangible impact they can make.
These real-world successes are the strongest argument for changing practice: each myopia management plan is a step toward preserving vision and preventing future disease.
WHAT’S NEXT IN THE GLOBAL MOVEMENT?
The momentum behind myopia management is accelerating. As new innovations emerge and evidence continues to build, the global focus is shifting toward earlier intervention, stronger alignment with public health policy, and more equitable access to care. The next frontier lies not only in refining treatment options but in embedding myopia management into standard practice across all regions and systems.
By working together, the eye care community can ensure that myopia is no longer passively observed, but actively managed – changing the long-term outlook for millions of children around the world.