While Myopia Action Month may be over, Myopia Profile is continuing to offer eyecare professionals (ECPs) new resources to support their management of childhood myopia.
The latest: An artificial intelligence (AI)-based virtual assistant named Ask Kate.
Let’s begin with Myopia Profile.
Founded by a husband-and-wife optometrist duo, the international organization is a clinical myopia management information center for ECPs focusing on managing and improving pediatric vision.
The organization initially started as a bulk email before progressing to a website, Facebook group, online courses, and eventually becoming the multi-channel educational resource it is today.
And what does it do, exactly?
Essentially, the organization’s team of clinical professionals offers ECPs a space to discuss myopia management, science, and innovations—and also offers:
- Accessible, clinically-relevant professional education
- Take note: A redesigned website was launched in 2023, equipped with a Knowledge Center and user-friendly, advanced search capabilities
- Clinical resources to support patient care
- Including clinical and scientific articles, myopia control products, and podcasts
- Also: MyKidsVision.org is designed exclusively for parents to help manage their children’s myopia and protect their vision
- Public awareness of pediatric myopia
Circle back to that Myopa Action Month—when did it start?
In 2023, actually. Myopia Profile kicked off this international, first-ever myopia awareness initiative in partnership with several big-name company sponsors in the eyecare industry.
The intent: For the 4-week initiative to serve as an instructional program for ECPs to take action against myopia, focusing on global education and industry collaboration.
Nice! Now let’s talk about this latest AI-based resource.
Ask Kate is an AI agent trained to deliver real-time, evidence-based responses to questions about myopia management, enabling ECPs to stay up to date on the latest clinical and scientific research.
- Its sourcing: The agent is exclusively trained on Myopia Profile’s clinically validated (and regularly updated) content from the aforementioned research articles, as well as MyKidsVision.org.
And the result?
The AI agent’s responses incorporate the knowledge and language of ECPs delivered as more simplified, parent-friendly explanations.
So what’s the purpose of this?
“AI is a powerful tool for learning, but it can also overwhelm users with excessive, sometimes misleading or inaccurate content,” stated Dr. Gifford.
- As such, Ask Kate is designed to cut through this massive overload of information and potential AI inaccuracies to provide “clear, succinct, and trustworthy” responses for both ECPs and patients’ families when making informed decisions.
Interesting … is there any clinical data backing up its capabilities?
Yes, actually … Dr. Gifford presented new results from a pilot study on Ask Kate during the American Academy of Optometry (AAO) annual meeting this week.
The findings: The AI agent was determined to provide more accurate and succinct information compared to five standard generative AI platforms.
- Meaning: Ask Kate demonstrated “its unique value as a profession-specific tool for myopia management.”
Sounds promising … anything else I should know about this tool?
Myopia Profile shared that it’s currently working on a second AI agent designed for parents and caregivers (via its MyKidsVision.org platform).
What we know so far: The agent will use simplified language and curated links to assist patients’ families in having a better understanding of pediatric myopia—as well as management options.
- As for a timeframe for when this might launch: That’s still to be determined.
Gotcha. Last question: How can I access Ask Kate for myself?
Myopia Profile is giving initial access to select ECPs via invitation only.
And if you’re not among those lucky few, feel free to register your interest in access to the AI agent via this link.
The American Academy of Optometry (AAO) annual meeting is taking place Oct. 8-11, 2025, in Boston, Massachusetts.