Recent Practice Patterns in Pediatric Myopia Control: Insights from a Nationwide Survey of South Korean Pediatric...

To investigate the recent prescription patterns among South Korean pediatric ophthalmologists to control myopia progression.

An online survey was distributed to the members of the Korean Association of Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus (KAPOS) between August 22 and 31, 2023. Respondents selected treatment modalities that they prescribed to slow myopia progression. Multiple responses were allowed, and prescribing patterns were analyzed by respondents' characteristics, including years since board certification, practice type, practice location, and average number of pediatric myopia patients seen per week.

Of 167 active members, 119 (71.3%) completed the survey, and 118 provided full responses. Most respondents practiced in Seoul or metropolitan areas (75.4%), worked in hospitals (73.7%), had >10 years of clinical experience (68.9%), and treated >20 pediatric myopia patients weekly (62.2%). With multiple responses allowed, 0.125% atropine eye drops (75.6%) were most commonly prescribed, followed by orthokeratology lenses (57.1%). When grouped into mutually exclusive categories (topical atropine only, optical interventions only, both and neither), the largest proportion of respondents (63.0%) selected both pharmacological and optical treatments. Treatment patterns did not differ by experience or location, but significant differences were observed by practice type and weekly pediatric myopia patient volume. Private practitioners more often prescribed orthokeratology, dual-focus soft contact lenses, and selected both pharmacologic and optical treatments, whereas hospital practitioners more commonly selected topical atropine alone. Those treating a higher volume of pediatric myopia patients showed a greater tendency to select both pharmacologic and optical treatments.

In this survey of KAPOS members, topical atropine, particularly the 0.125% commercial formulation, was the most commonly prescribed single modality for myopia control. Topical atropine and optical interventions emerged as the most common treatment strategies, particularly in private clinics. These findings indicate a trend towards more proactive and multimodal approaches to myopia control compared with earlier practice patterns in South Korea.