Myopia is no longer just a refractive inconvenience - it is a growing public health concern with lifelong consequences. This lecture will explore the evolving landscape of myopia, focusing on its impact during childhood and adolescence, when vision plays a critical role in learning, development, and shaping future opportunities. Set against the backdrop of real patient stories, this session will highlight the lived experience of individuals who have lost vision due to myopic maculopathy. Their journeys offer powerful insights into what could have been different had myopia control been available during their formative years.

This is a call to action for eye care professionals: The time to act is now - because while we cannot change the past, we can change the trajectory for the next generation.

Learning outcomes: 

• Practitioners will assess the risks associated with progressive myopia and evaluate how early intervention strategies can be used to reduce long-term ocular complications in children and young people     
• Practitioners will appraise their role in advocating for timely myopia management and reflect on how proactive, evidence-based care supports better lifelong visual outcomes for patients while also explore ways to treat patients with care and compassion