Sydney, Australia, 10 July 2018: Up to 80-90% of school leavers in East Asia are myopic, creating a booming demand for services and treatment across the region. Eye care practitioners, supported by the optical industry, are endeavouring to keep pace through national forums bringing the latest research findings and best practice myopia management to practitioners.
Researchers, clinicians and educators from Brien Holden Vision Institute have been presenting at events in China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, the Philippines, Singapore and Malaysia, over the last year, sharing expertise in the areas of myopic control optical devices, epidemiology of myopia and guidance on setting up a practice for myopia management.
Dr Kah Ooi Tan, Business Development Director for Brien Holden Vision Institute and a key speaker at several forums, says it’s an opportunity to contribute to the development of the profession in the region and also learn about the issues practitioners are concerned with there.
“It’s important to be involved in these events, some attended by up to 1000 participants, interacting with practitioners and sharing our knowledge to inform their patient management and also keeping up to date with the key concerns that practitioners and industry have,” he said.
Brien Holden Vision Institute has historical links in the region through education and research programs and collaborations, especially in China.
“We have developed good relationships with national professional associations in China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, the Philippines, Singapore and Malaysia and have participated in a number of inaugural forums,” said Dr Tan. “In May 2017, in collaboration with China Optometric and Optical Association, we were closely involved in the first Asia-Pacific Optometric Practice Forum, held in Guangzhou, China.
“Last week we were at the 1st Global Orthokeratology and Myopia Control Conference in Kuala Lumpur, organised by the Association of Malaysian Optometrists and International Academy of Orthokeratology and Myopia Control, where we presented on the status of the optical market and how it might progress in the near future, especially in light of the increasing levels of myopia and projected demand for optical products.
“Prior to that we were in Singapore, presenting at the Myopia Management Convention, hosted by the Singapore Optometric Association and Singapore Polytechnic. We’ve had an excellent response across these forums, in particular our Myopia Calculator, which is now available in Chinese, Spanish and English, has attracted a great deal of interest from practitioners.
“We’re grateful to the Association of Private Practising Optometrists in Hong Kong, Optometry Society of Taiwan and Ophthalmological Society of Taiwan, and the Integrated Philippine Association of Optometrists, Inc., for the opportunity to present at their respective forums as well,” he said.
In addition to the podium presentations the education team of Brien Holden Vision Institute have been running accredited ‘Managing Myopia’ online courses for optometrists in North America, Europe and Australia and New Zealand. The course has recently been translated into Spanish.
To find out more go to: academy.brienholdenvision.org
