"APAC faces a disproportionate burden of vision impairment"

World Myopia Day, a part of Myopia Awareness Week observed from May 23 to May 28, 2025, is setting new trends to raise awareness about the increasing prevalence of myopia globally.

- Dr Manbeena Chawla

Studies suggest that 30 per cent of the world is currently myopic and by 2050, almost 50 per cent will be myopic, which is a staggering 5 billion people. The hot spots of myopia are East and South East Asia where countries such as South Korea, Taiwan, Singapore, China and Japan have a prevalence of myopia of 80 to 90 per cent. To gather more understanding about how technology can ease out this burden within the Asian region, BioSpectrum Asia spoke to Serge Zins, Vice PresidentAsia Pacific at HOYA Vision Care in Japan. Edited excerpts:

What are the major plans in store at HOYA Vision Care for 2025, for the Asia market?

Asia remains a key market for HOYA Vision Care throughout 2025, playing a central role in our strategic priorities and supporting our mission to advance vision health for everyone. The region has long been essential to our efforts, particularly through the development of our leading myopia management solution, the MiYOSMART spectacle lens.

Developed in partnership with The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU), this lens uses Defocus Incorporated Multiple Segments (D.I.M.S.) Technology to slow or even stop the progression of myopia. With the clinical study supporting this innovation and having completed its eighth year of follow-up, it stands as the world’s longest-running myopia management spectacle lens study to date and further reinforces the safety and effectiveness of the MiYOSMART lens, and we remain steadfast in our commitment to the unique vision care needs of the Asia market.

MiYOSMART spectacle lenses have not been approved for myopia management in all countries, including the United States, and are not currently available for sale in all countries.

Looking to 2025, our focus is on expanding access to this impactful innovation, ensuring that more children across Asia benefit from its clinically proven, long-term effectiveness and safety.