Understanding influential factors on the implementation of myopia control in Sweden

This research project studies optical professionals’ experiences of which factors facilitate or hinder the implementation of treatment and management of myopia control among children and adolescents in Sweden. The goal is to contribute to improving guidelines for best practice in myopia management.

A child wearing glasses is sitting in an optician's chair. A woman is sitting in front of her. Both are smiling.

Myopia (nearsightedness) is today the most common refractive error, and the number of myopic children and adolescents is increasing in large parts of the world. WHO estimates that approximately 50% of the population will be myopic by 2050, with 10% affected by high myopia, a condition associated with a significantly elevated risk of severe ocular diseases. Today, there are effective strategies for myopia control, such as specially designed spectacles and contact lenses, which can reduce myopia progression up to 60%.

International research shows that Swedish optometrists perform myopia control to a lesser extent than their colleagues in other European countries. We need to investigate why this is the case.

In this research project, we therefore want to investigate optical professionals' experiences of what hinders or facilitates the implementation of myopia control. The results of the study will contribute to increasing knowledge about the conditions required to implement myopia control. Our goal is to ultimately contribute to the development and improvement of recommendations for "best practice" in myopia management.