With the growing prevalence of myopia, already at epidemic levels in some countries, there is
an urgent need for new management approaches. However, with the increasing number of
research publications on the topic of myopia control, there is also a clear necessity for
agreement and guidance on key issues, including on how myopia should be defined and how
interventions, validated by well-conducted clinical trials, should be appropriately and
ethically applied. The International Myopia Institute (IMI) reports the critical review and
synthesis of the research evidence to date, from animal models, genetics, clinical studies, and
randomized controlled trials, by more than 85 multidisciplinary experts in the field, as the
basis for the recommendations contained therein. As background to the need for myopia
control, the risk factors for myopia onset and progression are reviewed. The seven generated
reports are summarized: (1) Defining and Classifying Myopia, (2) Experimental Models of
Emmetropization and Myopia, (3) Myopia Genetics, (4) Interventions for Myopia Onset and
Progression, (5) Clinical Myopia Control Trials and Instrumentation, (6) Industry Guidelines
and Ethical Considerations for Myopia Control, and (7) Clinical Myopia Management
Guidelines.
