Don Mutti, OD, PhD, Plays Key Role in Myopia Report

The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine Report on Myopia was released to much fanfare in 2024, and Don Mutti, OD, PhD, Ohio State’s EF Wildermuth Foundation Professor of Optometry, was a driving force on the committee behind the report.

After studying nearsightedness for decades alongside Karla Zadnik, OD, PhD and colleagues, Dr. Mutti said he was honored to be selected for the national effort to increase understanding and raise awareness of a disorder estimated to affect at least one-third of the U.S. population.  

The NASEM report provides an updated and comprehensive analysis of myopia’s causes and its rising global prevalence. The organization’s last report on myopia was released in 1989, the same year Dr. Mutti began his graduate studies.

Reflecting on this full-circle moment, he noted, “The chair of the previous committee, Dr. Anthony J. Adams, was my PhD advisor, and that report formed the foundation for my own research on myopia. It’s incredible to now be a part of the team driving forward our understanding of this growing issue.”

Dr. Mutti and his fellow vision science experts contributed to the new 350-page report that reveals troubling trends and calls for more systematic evaluation of how common myopia is.

“Since 1989, the prevalence of myopia has significantly increased, both in the U.S. and globally,” Dr. Mutti said. “Much of this increase is occurring in developing countries, where the health consequences of myopia disproportionately affect vulnerable communities. Unfortunately, we still lack comprehensive national data on myopia prevalence in the U.S., with the last major survey conducted in 2004. One of the committee’s key recommendations is to implement regular, nationwide assessments of the prevalence of myopia using standardized methods.”

The report’s findings underscore the need to view myopia as a serious medical condition rather than just a manageable refractive error. “The myopic eye is not just optically out of proportion. Its structural changes can increase the risk of severe complications such as retinal detachment and glaucoma,” Dr. Mutti emphasized. “We need to take myopia seriously both in and out of the exam room, especially as its prevalence continues to rise.”

A key message of the report is the importance of prevention. Dr. Mutti and his colleagues stress that children should spend more time outdoors to help curb the rise in myopia.

“The increase in myopia prevalence is largely due to changes in children’s visual environment,” he explained. “Today, children are spending far more time indoors, engaged with electronic devices, than ever before. The problem is not the close-up work from screens, but the fact that children are spending too much time indoors. A balanced ‘visual diet’ that includes time outdoors is crucial.”

In 2007, Dr. Mutti was among the researchers who published findings from the Orinda Longitudinal Study of Myopia. Their research showed that children who spent at least 14 hours per week outdoors had a significantly lower risk of developing myopia. This key insight was reaffirmed in the 2024 NASEM report, supporting Dr. Mutti’s long-standing research on myopia prevention.

Dr. Mutti’s influence in optometry and vision science is widely recognized. “Don’s contributions to the NASEM panel reflect his extraordinary expertise in the field,” said Dean VanNasdale, OD, PhD. “His work has transformed our understanding of myopia, both from a clinical and public health standpoint.”

Erica Shelton (OD/MS’19), a current PhD student, shared her admiration, “Don’s impact on optometry is exceptional. His role in the NASEM report highlights how the scientific community views him as a leader in refractive error research. As a mentor, researcher, and educator, Don sets a standard that aspiring optometrists like me strive to reach.”