Myopia Profile

Myopia SOS with Prof Ian Flitcroft - Episode 1 - Off the naughty step

Published: August 25th 2025
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Myopia SOS! In the first of this six part series, join your 'agony aunt' Dr. Kate Gifford, an optometrist, researcher, and co-founder of Myopia Profile, and 'agony uncle' Professor Ian Flitcroft, a distinguished paediatric ophthalmologist and co-founder of Ocumetra, as they tackle your burning questions on myopia management. In British vernacular, an Agony Aunt or Uncle is someone who gives advice to people sending in problems or questions, traditionally to magazines or newspapers. You can be part of this first-of-its-kind format – send your myopia management challenges for Kate and Ian to tackle via podcast@myopiaprofile.com.

What takes 17 years? Not just a childhood – this is the typical delay between research findings becoming standard of practice. In episode one, Kate and Ian discuss where we are on this myopia timeline; “parent power” and prescription puppies; determining your “patter” for clinical communication and a case on getting started. What’s this about a naughty step? Ian’s five steps for myopia management make it accessible for all walks of eye care – where are you right now? Finally, don’t miss the story about Kate’s short-lived Las Vegas gambling career (unrelated to myopia)!

Meet the Authors:

About Kate Gifford

Dr Kate Gifford is an internationally renowned clinician-scientist optometrist and peer educator, and a Visiting Research Fellow at Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia. She holds a PhD in contact lens optics in myopia, four professional fellowships, over 100 peer reviewed and professional publications, and has presented more than 200 conference lectures. Kate is the Chair of the Clinical Management Guidelines Committee of the International Myopia Institute. In 2016 Kate co-founded Myopia Profile with Dr Paul Gifford; the world-leading educational platform on childhood myopia management. After 13 years of clinical practice ownership, Kate now works full time on Myopia Profile.

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