Knowledge of myopia control among newly qualified optometrists in South Africa

Background: Undergraduate education is a crucial practitioner knowledge base impacting clinical decisions and should incorporate the latest myopia control research. Aim: To describe the knowledge of myopia control among optometrists who have recently qualified from higher education institutions in South Africa. Setting: An online survey was conducted among newly qualified optometrists (graduates of 2020 and 2021) in South Africa. Methods: A quantitative, descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted through self-administered questionnaires circulated via social media and higher education institutions. Closed-ended questions assessed the knowledge of factors predicting myopia onset and progression, ocular pathologies associated with high myopia and myopia control strategies. Results: A response rate of 57.6% (n = 170) was obtained. Environmental factors and refractive status were considered important in predicting myopia progression, while parents’ refractive status (60.59%) and ethnicity (40.59%) were less recognised. The link between primary open-angle glaucoma and high myopia was widely known (65.88%), with many other sight-threatening conditions not identified. Although orthokeratology (70%) and increased time spent outdoors (65.29%) were considered successful, participants’ uncertainty of other strategies was evident by the significant percentage of unsure responses (24.71% – 44.12%). Conclusion: Misinterpretation and outdated information resulted in knowledge gaps across the different sections, with the lowest performing section being knowledge of myopia control strategies. Ocular pathologies associated with high myopia are crucial to everyday clinical practice and the poor knowledge shown is most concerning. Contribution: Higher education institutions should incorporate more of the latest research and clinical guidelines by creating more educational and training opportunities within their curricula.