Stop Children Becoming Short Sighted

Studies show short sightedness (myopia) is becoming more common among children. Research shows that children who spend more time indoors doing near-focused activities (such as computer work, video games, mobile phone use and reading) have higher rates of myopia than those who spend more time outdoors. Prevention is better than cure. Good visual hygiene is recommended to help avoid developing myopia - basically trying to get at least 2 hours of natural daylight each day when close work is not done…no phones! Research done in China; Hong Kong and at the Brien Holden Vision Institute (BHVI) in Australia confirmed the huge increase in myopia is due to lack of sunlight and too much close work whether on books or screens. There’s a free myopia calculator on the BHVI website so you can work out how myopic your child is likely to get if you input age, prescription and race. Asian children are the most vulnerable. Myopia is one of the biggest causes of blindness in the younger age groups as the retina is the size of a postage stamp and stretched over the enlarged myopic eye it can tear and break down causing vision loss. There are a number of ways of treating myopia in children. There are new contact and spectacle lenses which have been proved effective in reducing the increase in child short sightedness. We provide all the types currently available in the UK including Ortho K contact lenses. Spectacles with specialist lenses (Stellest and MiyoSmart) are currently the most popular choice for younger children but soft lenses (MiSight) can be worn from about age 8. Ortho K lenses are worn only at night for at least 6 hours. These lenses act on the cornea to shape it safely to give clear vision during the day. This modality is ideal for sports as there are no lenses to fall out or be dislodged. We’ve been supplying Ortho K with great success for the last 16 years. However, for those parents and children who are nervous about handling Otho K lenses soft contacts and spectacle lenses are a better choice. Soft lenses can be worn on sports days and spectacles the rest of the time. We specialise in myopia management in children. There is more information available on our website (and a link to BHVI website) available by clicking here.