Rectangular
Square
Round
Oval
WayfarerMyopia, or short-sightedness, is when you need to wear glasses to focus on objects in the distance. It’s a growing concern for children and adults alike, with implications for long-term eye health. We specialise in advanced myopia management for children, which is designed to slow its progression and protect visual health.
Myopia is increasingly common worldwide and is developing in children at younger ages. Right now, about 30% of kids and teens are affected, and this number is expected to rise to nearly 40% by 2050. For teenagers aged 13 to 19, rates could even exceed 50% by 2050.
What you need to know about myopia
Myopia occurs when the eyeball grows too long or the cornea (the front surface of the eye) curves too steeply. This causes light to focus in front of the retina (the light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye) rather than directly on it. Consequently, it becomes difficult to focus on objects in the distance, for example, when trying to read road signs or a school board.
Left unchecked, myopia can progress over time, especially in children. This increases the risk of more serious eye issues later in life such as glaucoma or retinal detachment.
Children are more likely to develop myopia if one or both parents have it. But there are also lifestyle factors at play.
Spending more time on near-vision tasks, such as staring at a screen, and spending less time outdoors increases the risk of myopia. In fact, spending just 2 hours every day outdoors can help slow down myopia progression.
Myopia treatment options for your child
Thankfully, advances in myopia management can help slow its progression, offering clearer healthier vision for years to come and reducing the risk of severe myopia and its associated risks.
If you’re looking for options for myopia control in Essex for your child, we offer MiSight contact lenses and MiYOSMART glasses lenses.
MiSight contact lenses
MiSight® 1-day contact lenses are soft, daily disposable lenses that are clinically proven to slow the progression of myopia by 59%, on average, over 3 years. They also reduce how long the eyeball grows – a key indicator of myopia progression – by 52%.
MiSight lenses use an innovative dual-focus design that corrects vision while actively addressing the causes of myopia progression. We find that even young children quickly get used to using these contact lenses, which is why we offer them to children aged 4 onwards.
MiYOSMART glasses lenses
MiYOSMART lenses are innovative spectacle lenses, developed using award-winning D.I.M.S. (Defocus Incorporated Multiple Segments) technology. They are clinically proven to reduce myopia progression by an average of 60%.
They look and feel like regular lenses while providing advanced myopia control by creating specific ‘defocus zones’ that slow how quickly the eyeball grows in length. With their durability, UV protection and ease of use, they are an excellent option for short-sightedness control.
Book an appointment for your child
If you suspect your child is short-sighted or if they have regular glasses and you want to discuss myopia control, contact us to book an appointment.
Our paediatric optometrist will perform a comprehensive eye exam, help you and your child choose the best vision solution based on their needs and lifestyle, and advise you on lifestyle changes that can also help limit their myopia progression.
