The Sydney-based International Myopia Institute (IMI) has released the third series of its highly cited White Papers in a special 2023 issue of the top peer-reviewed Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science (IOVS) journal.
The first two series of IMI White Papers were released in 2019 and 2021 respectively, and provided consensus and clinical management guidance for myopia development and management.
The latest third series highlights evidence around onset, progression, and management of myopia in less typical young adult and paediatric populations, the role of the choroid in eye growth control and myopia management, and a detailed anatomical paper on non-pathological ocular tissue changes observed in moderate to high myopia.
In addition, the series includes a report on the results of an international survey of practitioners on myopia management attitudes and strategies in clinical practice and a digest which updates the latest evidence from topics covered in previous editions.
IMI was formed following a World Health Organization-Brien Holden Vision Institute (BHVI) meeting on myopia and high myopia in 2015. The organisation comprises a think tank of experts in myopia tasked with developing white papers to generate consensus on the definitions of myopia, high myopia, management of the condition, as well as identify gaps in research.
Several Australian-based experts are involved in IMI White Paper Taskforces such as Dr Kate Gifford, Professor Padmaja Sankaridurg, Professor Mingguang He, and Dr Monica Jong,
“Year on year, there are a growing number of myopia management options available, and it can be difficult for practicing clinicians to keep pace with the evolving evidence base,” said Dr Nina Tahhan, IMI program director and BHVI director of clinical research.
“The White Papers bring together leading experts around the world to provide consensus and summarise the latest evidence to make it easily accessible and readily available for practicing clinicians to implement in practice. The IMI are incredibly committed to developing and disseminating the latest evidence-based research for all to benefit from.”
Professor James Wolffsohn, IMI chief scientific officer stated, said the IMI had brought together the leading experts in myopia research from across the globe again to ensure that clinicians have the latest information on myopia control to provide the best service to their patients.
He said the paper help “highlight areas where more research is required and to guide the ophthalmic industry in the development of products needed for the future”.
The 2023 IMI White Papers can be accessed freely at iovs.arvojournals.org and at myopiainstitute.org/imi-white-papers/. The IMI 2019 and 2021 white papers can be accessed freely at IOVS (Series One, Series Two) and at myopiainstitute.org/imi-white-papers/. The IMI 2019 and 2021 clinical summaries in many international languages are available at myopiainstitute.org, with 2023 IMI White Paper clinical summaries to be released soon.
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