Manila: President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has officially designated the second week of October as ‘National Myopia Consciousness Week’ to foster public awareness about the dangers of myopia. The initiative aims to educate the public on the importance of myopia prevention and control to promote healthier lifestyle habits among Filipinos.

According to Philippines News Agency, Proclamation 722, signed by Marcos on October 28, tasks the Department of Health, along with the Professional Regulation Commission and its Board of Optometry, with leading the yearly observance of National Myopia Consciousness Week. The proclamation describes myopia, or nearsightedness, as a refractive error where light rays entering the eye focus in front of the retina, rather than directly on it, when the eye is in a relaxed state.

The declaration underscores the necessity of raising public awareness about myopia’s risks and the significance of its prevention and control. This move is further supported by reports from the World Health
Organization and the Brien Holden Vision Institute, which predict a significant increase in global myopia cases. By 2030 and 2050, it is expected that approximately 3.36 billion and 4.8 billion people worldwide, respectively, will be affected by myopia, heightening the risk of vision impairment from conditions such as retinal damage, cataracts, glaucoma, and myopic macular degeneration.

Proclamation 722 calls for active participation and support from all government agencies and instrumentalities, including government-owned or -controlled corporations and state universities and colleges, in the activities associated with National Myopia Consciousness Week. Additionally, local government units, non-government organizations, professional associations, and the private sector are encouraged to participate and support the observance of the week.