21 July 2026
Lions Eye Institute researchers have helped developed a new eye growth chart designed to identify children at risk of myopia, providing clinicians with a new tool to monitor eye development and intervene earlier when needed.
Published in JAMA Ophthalmology, the international study analysed almost 560,000 eye measurements from more than 147,000 children and young people across Australia, Europe and East Asia.
The result is a comprehensive set of age-, sex- and region-specific eye growth charts, allowing clinicians to compare a child’s eye growth with that of their peers in a similar way to how height and weight charts are used to monitor physical development.
Myopia, also known as short-sightedness, is becoming increasingly common worldwide. Around 25 to 30 per cent of adults in Perth currently have myopia, and projections suggest that by 2050, around half of the world’s population could be affected.
Dr Gareth Lingham, Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the Lions Eye Institute and co-lead author of the study, said the charts could help clinicians better understand whether a child’s eye growth was occurring within an expected range.
“When the eye grows too long, it can weaken the structures of the eye and increase the risk of permanent, sight-threatening complications later in life,” Dr Lingham said.
“The longer the eye, the higher the risk of these complications.
“These charts provide a way to track eye growth and help identify children who may be on a pathway towards developing myopia.”
Myopia develops when the eye grows too long from front to back, causing distant objects to appear blurry. While glasses and contact lenses can correct vision, myopia also increases the risk of serious eye conditions later in life, including retinal detachment, glaucoma and myopic maculopathy.
What parents can do
Researchers say one of the most effective ways to reduce the risk of myopia is surprisingly simple — spending more time outdoors.
Evidence linking outdoor time and reduced myopia risk has strengthened considerably in recent years, prompting the Lions Eye Institute to recommend that children spend at least two hours outside every day.
Dr Lingham said outdoor time did not need to involve organised sport and could be incorporated into everyday routines.
“Children can read outside, play in the backyard, eat meals outdoors or walk and ride to school,” he said.
“The time doesn’t need to happen in one block; it can be spread throughout the day.”
During summer and when the UV Index is 3 or above, children should also use appropriate sun protection.
WA research continues
Lions Eye Institute researcher Professor David Mackey AO, a founding member of the international Consortium for Refractive Error and Myopia in Children (CREAM-kids), said the charts could help clinicians identify unusually rapid eye growth and assess a child’s future myopia risk.
“These charts are not intended to diagnose myopia, but they provide a valuable reference tool for monitoring eye growth and identifying children who may benefit from closer observation,” Professor Mackey said.
Professor Mackey and his team are continuing this work in Western Australia through studies involving children participating in the Raine Study and ORIGINS Study, helping researchers refine the charts and improve understanding of childhood eye growth.
The Lions Eye Institute is also investigating ways to identify children most at risk of developing myopia so families can be provided with targeted advice and support earlier in life.
Further reading
