The Optometric Trends Discovery Group (OTDG) Survey was launched on February 4, 2023. The survey included 141 questions developed and reviewed with the OTDG leadership board. The survey questions explored doctors’ understanding and current practice patterns across a number of areas of optometric care, including presbyopia, astigmatism, corneal therapeutics, ocular surface disease, glaucoma, lid management, corneal refractive surgery, dry AMD and geographic atrophy, and myopia management. Nearly 300 optometrists responded to the survey which was closed in mid-March 2023.

The survey asked respondents what the minimum amount of myopia would be for them to consider fitting a child with a specific myopia management correction. Intriguingly, 67% of respondents would only initiate myopia management therapies for children exhibiting myopia of -1.00 or -2.00 D, as shown in the figure above.

We asked Dr. Erin Tomiyama, a myopia specialist and an OTDG Board member who helped shape the survey, what she thinks of this data. She noted that the survey results were in contrast to the International Myopia Institute (IMI)’s definition of myopia as a refractive error of -0.50 D or more, which is the level at which numerous current myopia management therapies can be employed. Further, she notes that there is emerging evidence of the potential benefits of applying these therapies to pre-myopic individuals or those with a refractive error more hyperopic than -0.50 D.

Dr. Tomiyama discussed other results from the myopia section of the OTDG survey including, the reported rise in the prevalence among children over the past 5 years and the reported use of various treatment options for myopia with a focus on treatment options for children of different ages.

To read the rest of the report on myopia management or read reports on other topics featuring commentary from the OTDG expert panel please visit the knowledge center on tfgeducation.com.