The Event
Sign-up now for tickets to a behind-the-scenes, first-look at Jane Weiner’s new documentary followed by discussions with the filmmaker and myopia experts. Please join to watch the film excerpt and please share your feedback by clicking here. This feedback is one of the main reasons we scheduled this event and it will be invaluable in continuing the progress of finishing the film and connecting the film with audiences.
The recordings of the live panel discussions will be posted to the Q&A section in a few days and will be available for online viewing until November 30th.
Why This Film Why Now
With exponentially higher and higher rates of childhood myopia and ever-rising rates of ocular diseases occurring pre-maturely in ever younger populations, this issue is finally gaining ground in public discourse.
Beginning October 30th, you can play your part in bringing this new film - with its important public awareness message about myopia - to its next stage through watching the film, giving feedback and donating to help keep us filmming.
Since Covid, with its increased screen time and distant schooling, reports about the Myopia Epidemic are appearing with greater frequency in the popular press.
Unfortunately, myopia is a gateway to serious blinding diseases. And, with one million new cases occurring each week, Vision Scientists warn that there is no safe amount of myopia because in lens prescriptions, each minus (-) diopter doubles the risk of developing severe ocular problems. This is why myopia itself is now medically classified as an ocular disease.
We feel it is essential to raise awareness of this silent epidemic so that parents, teachers, pediatricians, and legislators will work towards having all children get a comprehensive eye exam before their first day at school.
Moderators and Panelists
EUROPEAN PANEL:
- Moderator: Ian Flitcroft Paediatric Ophthalmologist, Vision Scientist, Principle investigator on multiple clinical trials, Co-Founder of Ocumentra.
- Panelists: Nicola Logan Vision Scientist, Professor of Optometry, Aston University, Birmingham, U.K.
- Matjaž Mihelčič Optometrist in Bled, Slovenia; professor at Aalen University, Germany; president of European Council of Optometry and Optics.
- Rigmor Baraas Prof of Optometry & Visual Science, Dir of Research, National Centre for Optics, Vision & Eye Care, University of South-Eastern Norway
- Jane Weiner - Filmmaker
ASIA PACIFIC PANEL:
- Moderator: Kate Gifford Clinical Optometrist, Research Fellow, Peer Educator and Director of Myopia Profile - Brisbane, Australia
- Panelists: Philip Cheng Children’s Optometrist, Clinical Director of Eyecare Concepts/The Myopia Clinic - Melbourne, Australia
- Wen Juan Chui - Optometrist, Singapore
- Jane Weiner - Filmmaker
The Americas Panel:
- Moderator: David Troilo Biological and Vision Scientist, Professor and Dean, Administrative Affairs, SUNY College of Optometry - New York City
- Panelists: Thomas Aller Optometrist, Visiting Scholar UC Berkeley - San Bruno, California
- Kevin Chan OD, MS, FAAO Senior Clinical Director Treehouse Eyes - Bethesda, Maryland
- Xiaoying Zhu Vision Scientist, Optometrist and Lead Clinician of Myopia Management at the University Eye Center of the SUNY, College of Optometry New York City, New York
- Jane Weiner - Filmmaker
Synopsis
Confronted with an irretrievable loss of sight, filmmaker Jane Weiner discovers that her situation is not unique. Serious ocular diseases associated with what is called 'school myopia' is a primary cause of vision-threatening diseases that can strike many years later.
Camera in hand, she travels throughout America, Asia-Pacific, and Europe to create a documentary that pulls back the curtain on what has been established as a worldwide Myopia Epidemic.
Embedded with the world's leading Vision Scientists, Jane interweaves their pioneering research with testimonials of individuals coping with vision loss caused by childhood myopia, providing first hand witness to the real-life challenges and triumphs in discovering ways to help slow eye elongation in children.
Our film offers new hope with an insider's view on the development of newly-devised therapies to stem the tide of this silent epidemic that threatens millions of children with vision loss or total blindness.
