Bright China Myopia Conference 2024

On June 27-29, Bright China Myopia Conference 2024 took place in Wuxi, China. IAPB had the opportunity of attending this significant event, thanks to an invitation from the Shanghai Eye Diseases Prevention and Treatment Center (SEDPTC), IAPB’s friendly member organization in China.

This large-scale, comprehensive myopia conference addressed the full spectrum of myopia, including in-depth integration of basic research and artificial intelligence. It brought together over 100 distinguished speakers from academia, research, healthcare, policy making, governmental and non-governmenal organizations around the world who shared their valuable knowledge and experience. It attracted more than 2,000 attendees from various sectors. Over three days, speaches, panel discussions, and workshops provided an unparallel opportunity to discuss key issues and trends in myopia, both in China and globally, and to explore the latest research, strategies, and practices aiming at advancing myopia prevention and treatment. As an IAPB representative, I was pleased to be able to share the global eye health strategies and myopia focused-actions, as well as to introduce IAPB’s roles in eye health.

The conference featured an International Expert Symposium, offering an opportunity to learn about the SEDPTC’s on-going research on myopia with a focus on children’s eye health in China. It began with the opening remarks from Prof. Xun Xu, the chair of the conference, followed by Dr. Jun Chen, who introduced three key research projects on myopia burden analysis, China axial length study, and the real-world study of myopia prevention and control. I was fortunate to participate in lively discussions and exchanges of insights with ten other myopia experts, all of whom had outstanding research backgrounds and filed experience.

In addition to serving as a premier academic exchange platform for myopia researchers and practitioners, the conference was filled with celebrations, creating an exhilarating atmosphere. Among the various eye health initiatives celebrated, IAPB joined the stage for the official launch of the ‘Brighten the Eye Children and Youth Eye Health Program’ which aims to improve children’s eye health, addressing the growing concern of myopia in younger populations. The ceremony marked the significant milestone in the effort to combat myopia at an early age.

In conclusion, the Bright China Myopia Conference 2024 was an exceptional platform for discussing key issues and trends and for delving into the latest and foremost research, strategies, and practices in the field. Furthermore, the conference offered a valuable opportunity to connect with leading experts and linked-minded individuals, fostering collaborative efforts toward the future of eye health.