Optometry

Optometry is the autonomous healthcare profession devoted to the assessment of visual function and the diagnosis, treatment and management of refractive and binocular vision disorders. It encompasses the measurement of refractive errors, the prescription of spectacles and contact lenses, and the early detection of ocular disease. In recent years, the discipline has embraced advances in imaging, biomaterials and artificial intelligence to address global challenges such as the myopia epidemic, uncorrected refractive error and limited access to eye care in underserved regions. Novel non-invasive techniques now permit in vivo mapping of corneal and scleral biomechanics, while portable diagnostic platforms and tele-optometry have extended services to remote communities. At the same time, deeper understanding of the genetic and environmental drivers of myopia progression has informed targeted prevention strategies. Taken together, these developments underscore the expanding role of optometrists as primary eye-care practitioners and highlight the profession’s pivotal contribution to health systems worldwide.

Research from Nature Portfolio

Polarisation-sensitive optical coherence tomography has been refined to include triple-input illumination, enabling quantitative measurement of posterior scleral birefringence. Studies in both animal models and human volunteers reveal that increased birefringence correlates with axial elongation and refractive error, thereby providing a non-invasive biomarker for the early detection and monitoring of myopia progression.

A wireless, battery-free eye-modulation patch has been engineered for high-myopia therapy. The ultrathin device integrates ultrasonic power delivery, piezoelectric actuators and a microneedle array for riboflavin-enabled cross-linking of the posterior sclera. In rabbit models, a single application shortened axial length by over 1 mm and increased scleral stiffness by nearly 400 per cent, pointing to a minimally invasive approach for myopia control.

Research from all publishers

A deep-learning system trained on paediatric fundus photographs and clinical risk factors has achieved over 90 per cent accuracy in predicting the five-year risk of developing high myopia in schoolchildren. By stratifying individuals early, this tool offers a personalised pathway for intervention and follow-up.

A meta-analysis of global studies on near-work activities confirms that each additional dioptre-hour of cumulative near focus per week increases the odds of myopia onset by 2 per cent. These findings support public health recommendations to balance near tasks with outdoor time in childhood.

Optometry publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in optometry across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Refractive error: Any defect in the eye’s focusing power, causing images to blur on the retina unless corrected by lenses or surgery.

Myopia: A form of refractive error in which distant objects appear blurred because light rays focus anterior to the retina, often associated with axial elongation.

Axial elongation: Lengthening of the eye’s posterior segment, a principal structural change underlying the development and progression of myopia.

Polarisation-sensitive OCT: An imaging modality that measures tissue birefringence by detecting changes in the polarisation state of reflected light, revealing biomechanical properties.

Photocatalytic quantum dots: Nanoscale semiconductors that generate oxygen or reactive species under light irradiation, used to modulate the local biochemical environment for therapeutic gain.

Deep-learning predictive model: An artificial intelligence algorithm that learns complex patterns from imaging and clinical data to forecast disease risk or progression.

References

1. Posterior scleral birefringence measured by triple-input polarization-sensitive imaging as a biomarker of myopia progression. Nature Biomedical Engineering (2023).
2. A wireless battery-free eye modulation patch for high myopia therapy. Nature Communications (2024).
3. Deep learning system to predict the 5-year risk of high myopia using fundus imaging in children. npj Digital Medicine (2023).
4. The Association between Near Work Activities and Myopia in Children—A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. PLOS ONE (2015).