THE Myopia Meeting Makes Canadian Debut

Friday, November 11 2022 | 16 h 10 min | News

The Toronto International Centre was the venue for a full day of CE, workshops and trade exhibits focused exclusively on Myopia Management on Sunday November 6th.

Nearly 200 participants availed themselves of the opportunity to learn and networkon the topic, which is evolving quickly. The global leading role that Canada plays in advancing therapeutic options and standard of care were repeating themes through the day.

Canada has lead the way in establishing myopia management as the standard of care and offers a wider array of approved treatments to slow the progression of myopia relative to the more conservatively regulated US market. This is particularly true as it relates to specially designed spectacle lens options.

The event was organized by CRO (Clinical & Refractive Optometry), and  Review of Myopia Management (RMM) and copresented with GMAC (the Global Myopia Awareness Coalition).

THE Myopia Meeting provided 4-hours of COPE-approved continuing education credit interspersed with manufacturer workshops by CooperVision, EssilorLuxottica, and Hoya. Johnson & Johnson Vision was also a sponsor and shared information about its new lenses now available in Canada

After an introduction by Review’s chief medical editor Dwight Akerman, OD, MBA, FAAO, FBCLA, FIACLE, Debbie Jones, BSc, FCOptom, presented her course: “Myopia Control—Where We Are Now and Where We Are Going.”

Vishakha Thakrar, OD, FAAO, FSLS, in her presentation on “Managing Myopia Control Challenges and Complications,” reiterated Canada’s myopia management standard of care along with the currently available treatments, and discussing the genetic and environmental factors influencing myopia including information on the impact of the COVID pandemic on myopia prevalence.

Langis Michaud, OD, MSc, author of Managing Myopia One Child at a Time, began his CE course by emphatically stating, “You have to do something instead of single vision lenses. Because “Any myopia progression before the age of 10 is a time bomb!”

Stephanie Ramdass, OD, MS, MBA, FAAO, FSLS, wrapped up the day with her course: “Tips for Troubleshooting Myopia Management.” “Myopia spectacles really do have an advantage here in Canada,” she said, referencing the spectacle lenses available there that are not yet FDA approved in the U.S. “If we can target that 6- to 8-year-old group we can make a difference.”

As GMAC Board chair, Dr. Millicent Knight explained how the organization has been building consumer awareness around myopia management since 2018 including a brief overview of plans for Canada.

Canadian-based CRO (Clinical & Refractive Optometry) was COPE administrator for this event.

To read the full coverage of the meeting from Review of Myopia Management: