Myopia Specialist Centre (Singapore; Representative: Stan Isaacs) and Menicon Co., Ltd. (Nagoya, Japan; President: Hidenari Tanaka) will collaborate on advancing myopia research and education targeting the global market, established in Singapore in May 2022.
Background to cooperation in myopia research and education
The myopia population is increasing worldwide, especially since the Covid-19 pandemic. Lifestyle changes adopted during the height of the pandemic such as home-based learning, work from home schedules and longer screen times, have contributed to a sharp rise in the number of cases of children suffering from myopia and the severity of the disease in both children and adults.
It is estimated that by 2050, approximately half of the world's population will be myopic, and approximately 10% will have strong myopia¹. The frequency of myopia is particularly high in East Asian countries and is reported to exceed 90% in some regions². Furthermore, high myopia can damage the retina and optic nerve, leading to blindness. In terms of reducing the risk of future eye diseases and reducing medical costs³, it is important to raise awareness and education to combat the progression of myopia, and continuously develop research on myopia.
Outline of the Myopia Specialist Centre
Start of research: September 2022
Research base: Myopia Specialist Centre (Camden Medical Centre, Singapore)
Representative: Stan Isaacs (Optometrist)
The Myopia Specialist Centre is the first state-of-the-art facility in Asia dedicated to myopia. It was established in partnership with myopia specialists and industry leaders to raise awareness of myopia and address 'myopia' through education and specialized myopia management practices. Their Scientific Advisory Board consists of world-renowned myopia experts, who act as external consultants, and they have state-of-the-art facilities for myopia research.
In addition, the myopia management services and the programs offered are customized to mitigate the impact of the digital age on the eye. The key focus will be to provide solutions for myopia management in children, based on the latest clinical research, with the aim of slowing the progression of myopia and improving the quality of vision in children.
“As an Optometrist practicing in Singapore which is known to be the myopic capital of the world, it was frustrating with regard to how little we could do then. This got me to focus on Myopia and Myopia Research since 1995. It is a big step forward to work with Menicon to realize my dreams in making a difference worldwide in regard to myopia control and management. The expertise from Menicon’s Engineers, Scientist, Ophthalmologist and their products will allow the Myopia Specialist Centre to make a real difference in Myopic Control and management. New products will be developed and new strategies implemented. The Myopia Specialist Centre is one of the best equipped facilities and is supported by a Scientific Advisory Board consisting of myopia experts and specialists. We are looking forward to what we can achieve together.” Says Stan Isaacs, Consultant Optometrist at Stan Isaacs and Director at Myopia Specialist Centre.
Menicon has introduced Menicon Bloom Night, a CE Mark-certified orthokeratology lens for the control of myopia progression, at its subsidiary in the Netherlands. Following the Netherlands, the product has been introduced in seven other countries: the UK, France, Spain, Italy, Austria, Australia and Singapore. In addition, Visioneering Technologies, Inc. has received OEM supply of one-day disposable soft contact lenses with CE Mark certification for myopia correction and myopia progression control, which are marketed as Menicon Bloom Day. Menicon Bloom, a comprehensive myopia progression control system that includes these products, has mainly marketed in Europe.
The Myopia Specialist Centre will conduct and promote advanced research on myopia progression in children and patient management programs for the global market, as well as education on myopia management for ophthalmologists and optometrists in Asian countries and worldwide.
Meanwhile, in Japan, we have established an industry-academia collaboration endowed chair at Aichi Medical University to promote research and development on the control of myopia progression. Through domestic and international collaboration, we hope to effectively tackle the social problem of 'myopia'.
1) Holden BA et al. Global prevalence of myopia and high myopia and temporal trends from 2000 through 2050. Ophthalmology 2016; 123, 1036-10423
2) Rudnicka AR, et al. Global variations and time trends in the prevalence of childhood myopia, a systematic review and quantitative meta-analysis: implications for aetiology and early prevention. Br J Ophthalmol 2016; 100, 882-890
3) Flitcroft DI et al. IMI - Defining and classifying myopia: a proposed set of standards for clinical and epidemiologic studies. IOVS. 2019; 60(3): M20-M30