Doctor of Optometry Microcredentials Catalog

MYOPIA MANAGEMENT MICROCREDENTIAL

Dr. Xiaoying Zhu

Background Approximately 23% of the world’s population currently have myopia, and the prevalence has been increasing and is on track to more than double by 2050. The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine recommended in 2024 that myopia be classified as a disease, because it is associated with several vision-threatening ocular complications. Therefore, it is of vital importance to prevent myopia onset and to slow myopia progression.

While myopia management is not standard of care in the US, Canada has established myopia management as the standard of care in Nov 2022. No doubt that myopia management will become standard of care in the US in the near future, and there is an urgent need to equip our students with the comprehensive knowledge and clinical experience of evidence-based myopia management, so children in need of myopia management can receive the care they need.

Mission Statement The Myopia Management Microcredential is meant to develop competent students in the areas of myopia management, to both prevent myopia onset and slow progression. These students will learn how to effectively slow myopia progression, using the 4 pillars of evidence-based myopia control modalities: Orthokeratology, multifocal soft contact lenses (MFCLs), low-dose atropine eye drops, and PALs or bifocal glasses, including troubleshooting, while building a solid foundation in a variety of pediatric ocular conditions and binocular abnormalities. Learning Objectives ▪ To provide an opportunity to explore the field of evidence-based Myopia Management through multidisciplinary and collaborative care ▪ To increase knowledge and experience in various myopia control management options ▪ To develop techniques and clinical skills required to successfully fit patients with Orthokeratology and MFCLs ▪ To increase exposure on how to select the initial, individualized treatment option, how to monitor myopia progression, troubleshoot in case of difficult cases, and modify treatment options ▪ To manage patients for myopia management in case of concomitant binocular abnormalities and myopia-associated ocular pathology ▪ To increase experience on how to set up myopia management in private practice ▪ To foster a lifelong passion for enhancing the visual quality of life in the pediatric population