Menicon concludes MOU with Dr. Agarwals Eye Hospital in the myopia control management field in India
Left：Dr. Agarwals Eye Hospital Chief Clinical Officer & Executive Director Dr. Ashvin Agarwal Right：Menicon Co., Ltd. China & Asia Division Shunsuke Yamagishi Regional Director
Menicon Co., Ltd. (Head office: 3-21-19, Aoi, Naka-ku, Nagoya, President and CEO: Koji Kawaura) announced that Menicon concluded the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Monday, June 9, 2025, for the research and development of the myopia control management project with Dr. Agarwals Eye Hospital (hereinafter Dr. Agarwals), a top-level ophthalmic hospital group in the field of ophthalmology in India.
In recent years, myopic population has increased globally, which has become a major social problem. In particular, the number of myopia patients continues to increase, mainly in East Asia, and it is estimated that approximately half of the world’s population will have myopia and approximately 10% will have high myopia by 2050*1. In addition, it has been revealed that the risk of developing eye diseases increases in the future as the degree of myopia increases*2. Under these circumstances, Menicon has been investigating the possibility of developing myopia control management projects worldwide as an initiative to address the increase of myopic population. As part of such an initiative, we are conducting a clinical study in India to investigate the safety and effectiveness for myopia control management in Indian children using orthokeratology lenses*3 "Menicon Bloom NightTM.”
This milestone clinical study was started and is being conducted by Research and Development unit of Clinical Board of Dr. Agarwals Eye Hospital in February 2025, which gave us an opportunity to conclude the MOU for the research and development of myopia control management in India.
Additionally, the clinical study and dissemination/demonstration project in India are conducted as part of “The Subsidy for the Global South Future-Oriented Co-Creation Project (Survey on the Promotion of Overseas Development of Infrastructure by Japanese Companies: Second public invitation)” under the FY2023 supplementary budget of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry.
The main partnership contents of the MOU are as follows:
- Dr. Agarwals and Menicon make effort to slow myopia progression in Indian children by promoting myopia control treatment with Orthokeratology.
- Dr. Agarwals and Menicon conduct clinical study of orthokeratology, which is recognized worldwide as effective in slowing myopia progression.
- Dr. Agarwals and Menicon obtain knowledge and experience of myopia control treatment with orthokeratology.
- Dr. Agarwals and Menicon raise awareness and promote myopia control treatment with orthokeratology to ophthalmologists, optometrists and patients.
- Menicon works with Dr. Agarwals to develop contact lens business in India and surrounding countries.
While myopia control management with orthokeratology are still in the early stages of adoption in India, Menicon will work together with Dr. Agarwals to promote study and dissemination to solve the problem of myopia progression in India through this partnership.
<About Dr. Agarwals Eye Hospital>
Dr. Agarwals, the largest private eye hospital in India, has more than 220 hospitals in India and bases in 10 countries. With more than 60 years of results, over 700 ophthalmologists affiliated with the hospitals provide advanced medical care for cataract and glaucoma, as well as refractive correction.
https://www.dragarwal.com/
<About Menicon>
Since Menicon developed the first corneal contact lenses in Japan in 1951, under the corporate slogan “Contributing to society by providing superior visual correction,” we have been offering research and development that places the highest priority on eye safety, original advanced manufacturing technology, and MELS Plan that supports the comfortable and reliable eye health into the future. Menicon, based in Nagoya, is deploying its business in more than 80 countries worldwide as a general contact lenses manufacturer that not only develops lens materials and designs, but also manufactures lens care products.
https://www.menicon.com/corporate/
*1 Holden BA et al. Ophthalmology, 2016 May; 123(5): 1036-1042
*2 Haarman AEG, Enthoven CA, et al: The Complications of Myopia: A Review and Meta-Analysis. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 61: 49, 2020.
*3 Orthokeratology lenses are special hard contact lenses worn while sleeping to improve visual acuity.