Issues and challenges for myopia research.

1 Associate Professor Department of Ophthalmology, Centre for Eye Research Australia, University of Melbourne, Australia Department of Ophthalmology, National University of Singapore Singapore Eye Research Institute Singapore National Eye Centre 2 Associate Professor Department of Community, Occupational and Family Medicine, National University of Singapore Department of Ophthalmology, National University of Singapore Singapore Eye Research Institute Singapore National Eye Centre Address for Reprints: Asssociate Professor Wong Tien Yin, Centre for Eye Research Australia, University of Melbourne, 32 Gisborne Street, East Melbourne 3002, Australia. Email: [email protected] Myopia is an ocular disorder of major public health and socioeconomic significance in many East Asian urban cities.1 In Singapore, the prevalence of myopia is one of the highest worldwide, affecting 28% of school children at the start of their primary education and 70% of those completing university education.1-3 Four of 10 adult Chinese people >40 years old have myopia.4 Of greater concern is that a substantial proportion of Singaporeans have high myopia, usually defined as a refraction of –6.0 D or higher. One in 10 adults has high myopia, compared to 1 in 50 in most Western populations.4 There is also increasing evidence that both prevalence and severity of myopia may be increasing. Serial cross-sectional data from military recruits and school children of similar ages in Singapore show that myopia prevalence has increased from the 1970s to the late 1990s.5,6 However, the definitions and measurement techniques of repeated surveys differ and may not be directly comparable. What is the clinical and public health significance of these trends? Do we know what is the aetiology of myopia? Can we identify new and modifiable risk factors for myopia progression? Will therapies to halt progression of myopia become available? What are current and future challenges for myopia research? These and other issues are addressed in this issue of the journal.