MyopiaChat | 1 big UK conversation

June 1 2022: A proposal will be sent to Government by the #MyopiaChat campaign to create a UK Myopia Strategy.

The contents of the proposal will be defined by the feedback from UK Practitioners to 5 questions asked of them over 5 months on all the leading industry forums.

The 5 questions are below, along with recent and relevant ‘myopia chat’ comments from ECPs picked up off public forums to get discussions going.

Optometry is responsible for refractive management
Scott Brown, Optometrist

The responsiblity for refractive management (including myopia) of the public lies entirely with optometry. No other medical division knows as much as optometry does. Sadly, and increasingly, the public consider optometry’s only value as being able to test them for glasses. Much of what we do in detection of eye disease we need to refer on to ophthalmology. But with refractive management, the buck stops with us. If the optometric professional bodies embrace myopia management and elevate its public profile, it has the potential to unite the profession and benefit the public.

1. JANUARY: MYOPIA KNOWLEDGE GAPS

– How do we reduce them in public, professional bodies and the profession?

#MyopiaChat: What ECP’s have said about MYOPIA KNOWLEDGE GAPS recently
Many of these comments were sparked by recent BBC coverage about Myopia that failed to mention myopia management devices or reduction treatments / advice:

This topic is being discussed UK-wide in JANUARY
– Join the #MyopiaChat on all the main publishing sites [Optician Magazine, OT Magazine, DO Magazine] and social forums [Facebook: Opticians on Facebook (UK & ROI), Supporting Opticians UK, Opticians & Optometrists (UK only), UK Opticians]

2. FEBRUARY: COMMUNICATING MYOPIA WITH PARENTS

– Where does it need to come from?

– What support do we need from manufacturers and our professional bodies?

– Morally vs legally, where do we stand?

#MyopiaChat: What ECP’s have said about COMMUNICATING MYOPIA WITH PARENTS recently
Many of these comments were sparked by recent BBC coverage about Myopia that failed to mention myopia management devices or reduction treatments / advice:

This topic is being discussed UK-wide in FEBRUARY
– Join the #MyopiaChat on all the main publishing sites [Optician Magazine, OT Magazine, DO Magazine] and social forums [Facebook: Opticians on Facebook (UK & ROI), Supporting Opticians UK, Opticians & Optometrists (UK only), UK Opticians]

3. MARCH: MYOPIA BUSINESS CASE

– Dilemma: how to run an effective practice without excluding patients unable to afford the current options?

#MyopiaChat: What ECP’s have said about the BUSINESS CASE FOR MYOPIA recently
Many of these comments were sparked by recent BBC coverage about Myopia that failed to mention myopia management devices or reduction treatments / advice:

This topic is being discussed UK-wide in MARCH
– Join the #MyopiaChat on all the main publishing sites [Optician Magazine, OT Magazine, DO Magazine] and social forums [Facebook: Opticians on Facebook (UK & ROI), Supporting Opticians UK, Opticians & Optometrists (UK only), UK Opticians]

4. APRIL: MYOPIA MANAGEMENT DEVICES AND TREATMENTS

– Effective options, what are the legal responsibilities and where do they lie?

#MyopiaChat: What ECP’s have said about the LEGAL RESPONSIBILITIES SURROUNDING MYOPIA recently
Many of these comments were sparked by recent BBC coverage about Myopia that failed to mention myopia management devices or reduction treatments / advice:

This topic is being discussed UK-wide in APRIL
– Join the #MyopiaChat on all the main publishing sites [Optician Magazine, OT Magazine, DO Magazine] and social forums [Facebook: Opticians on Facebook (UK & ROI), Supporting Opticians UK, Opticians & Optometrists (UK only), UK Opticians]

5. MAY: GOVERNMENT FUNDING OF MYOPIA AWARENESS AND MANAGEMENT

– The divergence between what the NHS funds and what is available is getting bigger. What’s the solution?

#MyopiaChat: What ECP’s have said about GOVERNMENT FUNDING OF MYOPIA MANAGEMENT DEVICES recently
Many of these comments were sparked by recent BBC coverage about Myopia that failed to mention myopia management devices or reduction treatments / advice:

This topic is being discussed UK-wide in MAY
– Join the #MyopiaChat on all the main publishing sites [Optician Magazine, OT Magazine, DO Magazine] and social forums [Facebook: Opticians on Facebook (UK & ROI), Supporting Opticians UK, Opticians & Optometrists (UK only), UK Opticians]