Japan myopia rates rise as regulatory delays hold back treatment

Axial length devices designed for children are reducing the need for cycloplegic drops in Japanese clinics

Japan needs faster access to myopia control options as childhood prevalence rises and regulatory delays slow treatment availability.

Prof Kyoko Ohno-Matsui, Professor and Chairperson at the Institute of Science, Tokyo, Japan, discussed the issue during the Asia-Pacific Myopia Management Symposium. She said the country has one of the highest childhood myopia rates in Asia, making earlier intervention important before children progress to more severe disease.

The challenge is that treatment options remain slower to reach patients. Ohno-Matsui said they are “a little delayed because of the regulation of the government,” creating a gap between rising need and available care.

Better diagnostics could help clinicians monitor risk earlier. Ohno-Matsui said axial length measurement is especially important because it tracks eye growth, which is closely tied to myopia progression. Several devices designed to measure children’s axial length are now commercially available in Japan.

These devices may also reduce reliance on cycloplegic eye drops, which children and parents often dislike. Ohno-Matsui said the effect of the drops can sometimes remain until the next day, making families want to avoid cycloplegia. Axial length measurement tools designed for children can therefore offer a more practical way to support monitoring in everyday practice.

“In that case, axial measurement, and device, which is especially designed for children, is effective,” she said.

Looking ahead, Ohno-Matsui said clinicians should focus on protecting children’s long-term vision. The ideal outcome is emmetropia, where children can see clearly without glasses or contact lenses. But clinicians should also work to minimise the degree of myopia when that goal is not possible.

The childhood period is critical because it helps determine the future severity of myopia. For Ohno-Matsui, earlier diagnosis and treatment access are essential to preventing higher-risk disease later.