From smart glasses to personalized eye drops, myopia better patient outcomes.
We’ve come a long way from the old-school glasses and contacts. While those still have their place, the future of myopia management is all about precision, personalization and some seriously cool tech.
I t’s widely recognized that myopia is on the rise, especially in the digital age. But fear not! As we zoom into 2025, let’s dive into the newest developments in myopia care and how they’ll team up like never before to fight this vision villain.
The next big leap in myopia treatment is going to be a mix of cutting-edge technology and pharmacology. Let’s break it down, shall we?
The future is here, and it’s in your glasses
Picture this: Glasses that don’t just correct vision but actually help manage myopia by monitoring and modifying myopia-related behavior in patients.
The Visual Environment Evaluation Tool (VEET; Meta Reality Labs Research; Washington, USA) is a wearable device that measures light exposure and working distance.1 Mounted on spectacles, it provides real-time data on visual behaviors. Meta Reality Labs Research has partnered with the American Optometric Foundation to fund new studies using VEET.
Another innovation, the Clouclip (ClouClip; Zhejiang, China) is a device that clips onto children’s glasses to track their reading habits and lighting conditions, giving real-time feedback and alerting wearers to adjust their
reading distance.2
Old-school with a 2025 twist
Orthokeratology (Ortho-K) lenses and Myopia Control Soft Contact Lenses (MCSCLs) continue to evolve—and by 2025, they’re expected to be even more effective at slowing down that pesky axial elongation that causes myopia.
“Ortho-K lenses, myopia control soft contact lenses (MCSCLs) and innovative spectacle lens designs like defocus incorporated multiple segments (DIMS) will continue to play a vital role. These tools have demonstrated their ability to slow axial elongation. And with continued research, their efficacy may be further refined,” said Mr. Ryan Ho, an optometrist from Malaya Optical in Malaysia.
Ortho-K lenses work their magic overnight, reshaping the cornea so kids don’t have to rely on glasses or contacts during the day. Multiple studies have shown that Ortho-K lenses are effective in controlling myopia progression. A meta-analysis has concluded that Ortho-K can slow the progression of myopia in school aged children. Myopic progression was reduced by approximately 45%.3
And MCSCLs? They’re designed to alter the way light hits the eye, helping to slow the progression of myopia. The technology behind these two is expected to improve with researchers continuously refining lens designs to optimize their effectiveness in slowing myopia progression.
Atropine drops with a side of precision
Atropine eye drops, which have already shown promising results in slowing myopia progression, could get a personalized makeover.
The Chinese University of Hong Kong’s (CUHK) Faculty of Medicine conducted a randomized, placebo controlled, double-masked trial of low-concentration atropine eye drops to evaluate their effectiveness in preventing myopia.4
Results of the LAMP2 study showed that among children aged four to nine without myopia, nightly use of low-concentration 0.05% atropine eye drops resulted in a significant reduction in the incidence of myopia
over two years—from 53.0% to 28.4% (a relative reduction of 46.4%)—compared with placebo. The participants had at least one parent who was myopic.
“Pharmacological advances are expected, with new studies indicating that low-dose atropine eye drops may be prescribed more precisely based on individual genetic and ocular characteristics,” said Mr. Ho.
This means that instead of a one-size-fits-all approach, each patient could get the exact dose of atropine that works best for them. This precision medicine approach may boost the effectiveness of treatments and minimize any potential side effects, making it a win-win for both optometrists and patients.
No one-size-fits-all approach
Mr. Muhammad Syimir Shahrul Izam, optometrist and founder of Quest Eyecare, Malaysia, emphasized the growing importance of staying updated on myopia control methods.
“Myopia control options are now widely recognized. It is essential to stay up-to-date with the latest advancements and developments in myopia control and to continuously enhance our knowledge in this area,” he said. He also highlights the effectiveness of various treatments, particularly combination approaches.
“All myopia control methods developed so far have shown promising outcomes. Combination treatment in particular, especially pharmacological with optical interventions, is an area worth exploring further to achieve even more significant and reliable results,” he said.
“This could include the combination of atropine with myopia control spectacles (DIMS or HALT lenses) or the use of atropine alongside orthokeratology (Ortho-K). These approaches have the potential to provide enhanced outcomes and offer more effective management for myopia progression,” said Mr. Syimir.
A two-year randomized study showed that combined 0.01% atropine and Ortho-K therapy resulted in retarding axial elongation compared with Ortho-K alone (0.17 vs. 0.34 mm) in 96 Chinese children.5
Looking ahead, Mr. Syimir also sees light therapy playing a bigger role in myopia control. “Light therapy will also be something that we’ll be seeing more in the next years as a key role in controlling myopia progression. Various light-based therapies for myopia control are being investigated, ranging from retinal stimulation to the modulation of choroidal thickness. I believe extensive research is essential to fully assess the long-term safety and efficacy of light-based therapies for myopia control, ensuring their reliability for widespread clinical use,” he noted.
Catch it before it gets worse
The sooner myopia is detected the better the treatment outcome. That’s the mantra of 2025, and it’s something optometrists will emphasize.
As Mr. Ho said, “The future of myopia management is rooted in personalization and early intervention.” Thanks to advanced diagnostic tools and smart eyewear, clinicians will be able to spot early signs of myopia and intervene much earlier than ever before.
This is a game-changer, especially when lifestyle factors such as too much screen time and not enough outdoor activities can play a huge role in myopia progression.
Studies have shown that kids who spend more time outdoors are less likely to develop severe myopia,6 so expect to see more emphasis on outdoor activities as part of a well-rounded treatment plan.
What’s coming next?
It’s all about getting ahead of the game—before myopia takes over.
“The landscape of myopia management is rapidly evolving, and 2025 is set to bring a new wave of innovative solutions aimed at better control and earlier intervention. As an optometrist in Malaysia, it’s clear that the integration of technology, research and clinical practice will drive significant changes in how we approach myopia management,” said Mr. Ho.
One thing to note, however, is that a comprehensive discussion with the child’s parents is crucial, as factors such as cost, time commitment and expectations need to be carefully considered, said Mr. Syimir.
“It is important to ensure that parents are fully informed about the available treatment options, their potential benefits, and any challenges involved in managing their child’s myopia,” he added.
Despite the wide array of treatment options available for myopia management, it is also crucial not to overlook the importance of basic preventive measures.
“Encouraging young patients to spend more time outdoors, increasing their exposure to natural sunlight, emphasizing the importance of maintaining an appropriate reading distance, as well as reducing prolonged near work or screen time are simple yet effective strategies,” advised Mr. Muhammad Syimir.
As we look ahead, it’s clear that the future for myopia management holds even greater potential with innovative technologies on the horizon. “These advancements will empower parents, optometrists and children alike, making it possible to address myopia progression at its source—daily behavior,” said Mr. Ho.
“By combining wearable technology with proven optical and pharmacological methods, 2025 will mark a significant shift in how we prevent and control myopia worldwide,” he concluded.
Editor’s Note: A version of this article was first published in COOKIE magazine Issue 18.
References
- Project Veet. Visual Environment Evaluation Tool. Available at: https://projectveet.com/. Accessed on December 26, 2024.
- Wen L, Cheng Q, Cao Y, et al. The Clouclip, a wearable device for measuring near work and outdoor time: validation and comparison of objective measures with questionnaire estimates. Acta Ophthalmol. 2021;99(7):e1222-e1235.
- Sun Y, Xu F, Zhang T, Liu M, Wang D, Chen Y, Liu Q. Orthokeratology to control myopia progression: a meta-analysis. PLoS One. 2015;10(4):e0124535.
- Yam JC, Zhang XJ, Zhang Y, et al. Effect of Low-Concentration Atropine Eyedrops vs Placebo on Myopia Incidence in Children: The LAMP2 Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA. 2023;329(6):472-481.
- Tan Q, Ng AL, Cheng GP, et al. Combined 0.01% atropine with orthokeratology in childhood myopia control (AOK) study: A 2-year randomized clinical trial. Cont Lens Anterior Eye. 2023;46(1):101723.
- Rose KA, Morgan IG, Ip J, et al. Outdoor activity reduces the prevalence of myopia in children. Ophthalmology. 2008;115(8):1279- 1285.
