The Brien Holden Vision Institute (BHVI) has introduced outdoor time as a new risk factor in its myopia calculator, enabling clinicians to better visualise the protective effect of outdoor exposure on myopia development alongside other key risk factors. 

Drawing on peer-reviewed research and developed through collaboration with the International Myopia Institute, BHVI’s myopia calculator is one of the most widely used clinical tools globally for assessing a child’s risk of developing myopia, the Australian not-for-profit organisation said.  

The calculator provides evidence-based predictions across treatment, prevention and management options, to help eyecare practitioners determine the best course of action for at-risk or myopic children and enable informed discussion with parents. 

Developed in partnership with the Shanghai Eye Disease Prevention and Treatment Centre (China), Ulster University (UK) and Linnaeus University (Sweden), the calculator is available free of charge at bhvi.org.