AMA Supports Recognizing Myopia As A Disease
At its recent House of Delegates meeting, the American Medical Association adopted policy supporting the recognition of myopia as a disease and encouraging broader insurance coverage for evidence-based myopia management. While this policy does not immediately change reimbursement practices, it represents an important step toward treating progressive myopia as a medical condition rather than simply a refractive error corrected with glasses or contact lenses.
The timing is significant because myopia is increasing worldwide at an unprecedented rate. Research predicts that by 2050, approximately half of the global population could be myopic, with increasing numbers developing high myopia—a condition associated with elevated risks of retinal detachment, glaucoma, myopic macular degeneration, and cataracts. Eye care professionals have increasingly emphasized that slowing myopia progression during childhood can reduce the likelihood of these vision-threatening complications later in life.
Current evidence supports several interventions that slow myopia progression, including low-dose atropine eye drops, orthokeratology lenses, and specialized soft contact lenses designed for myopia control. However, many of these treatments require significant out-of-pocket expenses because insurance coverage remains inconsistent. The AMA’s policy could strengthen future advocacy efforts aimed at improving reimbursement and increasing access to these therapies for children who may benefit from them.
For optometrists and ophthalmologists, the policy also reflects a broader shift in clinical philosophy. Rather than waiting for a child’s prescription to worsen before updating corrective lenses, providers are increasingly encouraged to identify at-risk children early, educate families about progression risks, and implement interventions designed to slow disease progression. This proactive approach aligns with growing international consensus on pediatric myopia management.
Although meaningful insurance changes will likely take time, the AMA’s endorsement carries considerable influence within the U.S. healthcare system. It provides additional validation for clinicians already practicing evidence-based myopia management and may encourage insurers, policymakers, and healthcare organizations to reconsider how pediatric myopia treatment is classified and reimbursed in the years ahead.
Learn more here:
https://www.reviewofoptometry.com/newsletter/op/optometric-physician-july-13-2026?
