Children’s Eye Health and Safety Month — Screening, Myopia Prevention, and Safety Across Development

Childhood eye health encompasses a range of conditions, including myopia, amblyopia, strabismus, refractive error, and retinopathy of prematurity (ROP), that can affect visual development and quality of life. Although many causes of childhood visual impairment are preventable or treatable, substantial gaps remain in timely screening, access to care, treatment adherence, and safe management across different developmental stages. The rapid increase in childhood myopia, together with growing concerns about prolonged screen exposure and digital eye strain, has further intensified the need for effective prevention strategies. Recent studies have improved understanding of myopia risk factors, refined screening approaches, and expanded evidence for myopia-control interventions, while advances in imaging and neonatal care continue to support earlier ROP detection and treatment. However, variation in screening standards, healthcare resources, intervention effectiveness, and long-term outcomes highlights the need for integrated research connecting mechanisms, clinical practice, and population health.In recognition of Children’s Eye Health and Safety Month, this Research Topic aims to advance the prevention, early identification, and management of childhood vision disorders across the developmental spectrum. It will explore how screening programs can improve detection and referral, which interventions best preserve or restore visual function, and how clinical, environmental, behavioural, and social determinants influence outcomes. Contributions may also address the effectiveness, safety, accessibility, and long-term impact of emerging approaches, including myopia-control strategies, digital-health tools, and technology-supported assessment. By integrating clinical, epidemiological, translational, and public-health perspectives, this Research Topic seeks to identify evidence-based approaches that can improve visual outcomes for children worldwide.To gather further insights into childhood vision health from infancy through adolescence, this Research Topic will focus on prevention, screening, diagnosis, treatment, rehabilitation, and safety, while recognising differences in developmental stage, clinical setting, and available resources. We welcome articles addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:o Vision screening programs, referral pathways, coverage, and outcomeso Prevention, progression, and control of childhood myopiao Screen exposure, digital eye strain, and visual developmento Diagnosis and management of amblyopia, strabismus, and refractive erroro Retinopathy of prematurity screening, imaging, treatment, and follow-upo Ocular trauma prevention and eye safety in the home, school, sports, and communityo Developmental changes in visual function and age-appropriate clinical assessmento Risk factors, health inequalities, and access to pediatric eye careo Teleophthalmology, artificial intelligence, and digital tools for screening and monitoringo Clinical translation, patient and caregiver education, adherence, and long-term outcomes Topic editors: Arvind Chandna, Roger W Li, Frouke Nienke Boonstra Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/85474/childrens-eye-health-and-safety-month---screening-myopia-prevention-and-safety-across-development