What is Mypoia and how is it caused?
Commonly referred to as near-sightedness or being short-sighted, myopia is becoming an ever increasing worldwide concern, especially amongst school aged children. By 2050 around half the world’s population will be short-sighted.
As referenced from lens manufacturer Zeiss, 2-3% of children under 6 in Europe aged have myopia, with this figure rising to 10% for 7–10 year old children and alarmingly increasing to 20–30% for secondary school children aged 11–17.
Myopia can be passed on through genetics and there are multiple other reasons why its prevalence is increasing around the world. However, with changing lifestyles including increased screen, more time looking up close at tasks like reading and digital exposure combined with children spending less time outdoors, there is a clear trend in the increase of myopia in school aged children.
What does Myopia feel or look like?
When a shortsighted (myopic) person looks into the distance, a blurred image is produced in the eye (on the retina). If progressing to high prescriptions and not corrected, it could negatively impact a child’s learning and quality of life and lead to increased risk of long-term vision issues such as retinal detachments, glaucoma and myopic maculopathy. For example, difficulty with distance vision can affect everyday activities such as classroom work or playing sports. The condition can cause symptoms including headaches and eye strain.
What to do if your child is struggling with their sight?
The first step is to book an eye examination to have your child’s eyes assessed. At Kathryn Anthony Optometry we’re dedicated to helping parents receive a diagnosis for your child at the very earliest opportunity. With the most advanced eye examination technology available in Bath, our optometrists can detect Myopia with ease.
Our optometrist Jessica Watson notes,
“Glasses fitted with myopia control lenses, such as those using DIMS (Defocus Incorporated Multiple Segments) technology, have been clinically shown to slow the progression of short-sightedness in children by up to 60%, helping to safeguard their long-term eye health to avoid higher risks of retinal detachments and increased risks of pathologies in the future.”
Early detection is key not just for correcting your child’s vision but also for managing their myopia progression as soon as possible.
What are the best glasses for Myopia?
If we do discover that your child is short sighted, there are now fantastic advancements in lenses from manufacturers such as Zeiss who produce dedicated lenses for myopia. As a selected Zeiss stockist, we often recommend Zeiss MyoCare lenses for short sighted children. These specifically designed lenses incorporate optical microstructures that induce myopic defocus in the lens periphery and alternating areas of clear focus. This helps manage myopia, especially within children, and provides the optimum balance between good vision and effective myopia management.
Zeiss MyoCare lenses can be fitted into numerous frames including the highly popular child specific Nano Vista brand who we are proud to stock. Marketed as indestructible, Nano Vista children’s glasses are ultra-resistant, super flexible, lightweight and hypoallergenic. They always maintain their original shape even when stretched and twisted – the perfect solution for children.
How exactly do Zeiss MyoCare lenses work?
As children grow, their eyes become longer. Myopia develops if eye elongation is more than it should be at a given age. Myopia can be managed by slowing down the progression. MyoCare lenses feature special ring-shaped optical structures on the lens surface. These structures trigger a signal in the back of the eye to stop it from becoming longer than it should be to slow down myopia progression.
In addition, the back surface of the lens is specifically optimised to give your child clear and comfortable vision throughout the lens in all viewing directions. ZEISS ClearFocus technology also minimises any blur that can contribute to eye elongation and when combined with ZEISS UV Protect, provides full UV protection, meaning your child’s eyes are protected when playing outside.
Book a myopia eye examination for your child
Please get in touch today to book your child in for an eye examination at your earliest opportunity. We are open Monday to Friday until 17:30 and also Saturdays until 16:30.
