Myopia is a growing concern in every part of the world, and while doctors value pharmacological, optical and behavioral methods to combat the condition, they put more stock in one of those three methods depending on where they practice, a report shows.

In analyzing a global questionnaire, researchers found pediatric ophthalmologists admit to a schism in treating myopia progression, according to a study recently published in the British Journal of Ophthalmology. The study compared pharmacological, optical and behavioral variations in the practices of pediatric ophthalmologists around the world.

The investigators found that treatment rates varied significantly between geographical regions. Nearly all the doctors polled use at least one form of effective treatment. The research shows that European physicians offer the lowest rate of pharmaceutical treatments (85%) compared with other regions (a mean of 97%). Central and South American doctors use optical treatments approximately 16% of the time, far less than clinicians in the Far East, who rely on it 56% of the time. In total, 92% advocate behavioral modifications, with only slight geographical variations ranging from 87% in North America to 100% in Central Asia.

Nearly all—95% of respondents—use a combination of treatment modalities, the researchers note.