- 1001 Optometry launches Magnif-eye, a free AI tool that scans family photos for early signs of childhood myopia (short-sightedness).
- The initiative addresses the rising rates of childhood myopia, a global health issue projected to affect 50 per cent of the population by 2050.
- Designed as a simple tool that gives parents an accessible way to check for potential signs they might otherwise miss.
SYDNEY, Australia – 25th March, 2026 – That camera roll of beloved family photos could be holding a vital secret about your child’s health. Today, leading Australian optometry brand, 1001 Optometry, has launched Magnif-eye, a free, innovative AI-powered tool designed to help Australian parents spot potential indicators of childhood myopia. Myopia, commonly known as short-sightedness, is an eye condition where objects in the distance appear blurry because the eyeball has grown slightly too long, causing light to focus incorrectly.
The initiative comes as alarming projections show that half of the world's population will be myopic by 2050*. The prevalence is also on the rise in Australia, with a study by the University of Melbourne predicting that 40 per cent of children in Australia will have Myopia by 2050**. Most parents are unaware of the subtle early signs, such as frequent squinting, head tilting or needing to sit closer to the television. By the time vision problems become obvious, the condition may have already progressed, leading to higher long-term risks for the child's eye health.
Magnif-eye, developed by 1001 Optometry, turns the family camera roll into a proactive health tool. Parents are guided to select several photos of their child, which the AI then scans for potential visual cues of myopia. The tool is not a replacement for clinical diagnostic tests with registered optometrists, but does provide initial, reassuring feedback, and depending on the results, recommends next steps for optometrist care.
Developed with privacy at its core, Magnif-eye deletes all photos immediately after analysis***. Images are processed on secure servers in Australia and are never stored, shared or viewed by any person, ensuring family memories remain completely private.
Edward Lee, Retail and Optometry Director at 1001 Optometry, said the tool was developed to empower parents and promote proactive eye health and care.
“We know that every parent's phone is a treasure trove of memories, filled with thousands of pictures of their children. That camera roll can be a powerful, preventative health tool.” Mr. Lee said. “Here at 1001 Optometry, we want to start the conversation about myopia earlier and change the trajectory of children's eye health in Australia by getting them into an optometrist's chair sooner. And because a comprehensive eye exam can be bulk-billed through Medicare, it’s an accessible next step for every family.”
Margaret Lam, Head of Optometry and Professional Services at 1001 Optometry, stressed the clinical importance of early detection.
“As an optometrist, one of the most worrying trends we are seeing is the earlier onset of myopia in children. Early onset often means faster progression, which significantly increases the risk of more serious eye conditions like glaucoma, cataracts, and retinal detachment later in life,” Ms. Lam explained. “This tool is a vital first step. It gives parents an accessible way to check for potential signs they might otherwise miss. An early conversation with an optometrist can lead to interventions that manage and slow the progression of myopia, safeguarding a child’s vision for the future.”
The Magnif-eye is now available to access by visiting magnifeye.com.au.
Parents can book a comprehensive, Medicare-bulk-billed eye test.
For more information, visit 1001optometry.com.au/ ENDS
Notes to Editor:
*Good vision for life: The rising prevalence of myopia: a global concern
**University of Melbourne: Shortsightedness is on the rise in children. There’s more we can do than limit screen time
*** Magnifeye processes your child’s images in-memory only, with all images and abstracted data discarded for every session. Our services send the images to our secure and proprietary AI stack, built in part on external Gemini 3 Flash Preview and MediaPipe's FaceLandmarker AI cloud instances, for analysis and response. These external services treat the images exclusively as transient data streams, and do not persistently store customer-provided image data beyond the real-time processing transaction, nor do they use any of the images for data training.
About us:
About 1001 Optometry
1001 Optometry, formerly 1001 Optical, has been providing expert optometry services for over 30 years, with dedicated experts that care about maintaining your optimal eye health and vision clarity. We have made it our mission to deliver the ultimate customer experience, from first test to final frames. We're here to provide you with comprehensive, professional optometry services, with a team of skilled optometrists that offer personalised assessments, precise prescriptions, and tailored eye care plans to ensure your visual wellbeing. 1001 Optometry also offer an extensive range of top-tier eyewear, including stylish frames, sunglasses, and contact lenses from renowned brands.
About Magnif-eye
Magnif-eye uses AI to analyse photos for visual signs and behaviours associated with myopia risk in children. Combined with a short analysis of environmental and lifestyle factors, the tool provides parents with an initial indication of their child's myopia risk and, based on the results, encourages them to book a comprehensive eye examination.
Contact details:
Heba Khan
Account Executive
0404 842 165
Simone Corletto
Account Manager
0411 581 083
