This presentation will discuss findings from a study aimed at optimising early detection of premyopia and myopia in young children using non-cycloplegic screening methods. With myopia rates rising globally, research has primarily focused on slowing progression to prevent high myopia and associated complications. However, given that myopia is irreversible once developed, the focus must shift towards prevention by identifying premyopia early.
Premyopia, defined by the International Myopia Institute (IMI) in 2019, refers to a refractive state of ≤+0.75 D and >-0.50 D in children with a combination of risk factors indicating a high likelihood of developing myopia. This study, conducted in 24 Irish primary schools with 728 participants, evaluated screening methods such as uncorrected distance visual acuity (UDVA), non-cycloplegic spherical equivalent (SE), and ocular biometry. Results suggest that combining non-cycloplegic SE with axial length/corneal curvature ratio (AL/CR) offers the most effective detection strategy for premyopia (AUC = 0.75).