In the review by Raman et al., the authors compared and discussed how deep learning models with artificial intelligence neural networks can help in the diagnosis of diabetic retinopathy. With the recent advancements in computing and imaging technologies, the use of artificial intelligence in the detection of diabetic retinopathy might provide a solution in providing a cost-effective method in screening a large population of diabetic patients. The demand for screening of diabetic retinopathy will therefore also increase tremendously and will put substantial burden in areas already having insufficient eye care providers. For example, the prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus in South Asia is expected to increase by 150% between 20.

With the rapid urbanization and socioeconomic changes occurring in many parts of Asia, the incidence of diabetes mellitus is growing exponentially. A global concerted effort to tackle the increasing impact of myopia is thus urgently needed. The results of these studies will be valuable to inform on the applicability of low-dose atropine in these patient populations. Randomized clinical trials to evaluate the efficacy, safety, and tolerability of low-dose atropine in children of European descent are currently ongoing. The clinical implementation of low-dose atropine in European countries is still rather limited at present. Despite low-dose atropine being proven as an effective and safe method in controlling myopia progression in well-designed randomized controlled trials, the lack of approved licensed preparation of low-dose atropine due to insufficient financial interest from the pharmaceutical industry has led to a considerable barrier in its uptake in the prevention of myopia. With the potential development of sight-threatening complications including macular atrophy, myopic choroidal neovascularization, and myopic traction maculopathy arising from high myopia, it has thus become a major epidemiological problem globally. in their review article on myopia and the use of atropine for myopia control, the condition is no longer a problem limited to East Asia as the prevalence of myopia is increasing rapidly worldwide.

In this Special Asian Perspective Issue of Eye, review articles prepared by experts in Asia and beyond summarized key aspects of these eye conditions more commonly found in the region.Īs highlighted by Wu et al.

The higher prevalence of these conditions in Asia created excellent opportunities for clinicians and scientists in the region to investigate and study the epidemiology, pathogenesis, diagnosis, and treatment of these eye diseases.

Due to the lack of good sanitation, poor hygiene standards, and infrastructure, an overcrowded living environment, together with high rainfall and humidity in these underdeveloped areas, infectious uveitis due to tuberculosis, and mosquito-borne diseases such as dengue and chikungunya are more commonly found in these parts of Asia. Although some Asian countries and regions are well-developed urban populations, many parts of Asia are still relatively underdeveloped. These include high myopia, angle-closure glaucoma, pachychoroid eye diseases such as central serous chorioretinopathy and polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV), and certain non-infectious uveitis like Vogt–Koyanagi–Harada disease, sarcoidosis, and Behcet’s disease. Due to various genetic and environmental risk factors, certain eye diseases are particularly prevalent in Asian populations. Asia is the world’s most populated continent and contains over 60% of the world’s population.

Asian eyes