MYOPIA & MYOPIA CONTROL

Myopia, or short sightedness, is a condition in which light is focused in front of the retina, resulting in blurred distance vision. People with myopia usually see well at short distances but have difficulty seeing clearly in the distance. People may not realise they have myopia but once it is diagnosed and corrected with spectacles or contact lenses, distance vision is improved making overall sight much better.

Myopia control

Myopia, commonly known as short-sightedness, is a prevalent vision disorder that is increasingly becoming a global concern. By the year 2050, it is estimated that 10% of the world’s population will be affected by high myopia, which refers to myopia greater than -6.00. Extensive research has indicated that high myopia poses risks of vision impairment and an elevated likelihood of eye health complications later in life.

If your child or teenager’s myopia is progressively worsening over time or at subsequent visits to the optometrist or ophthalmologist, it is a cause for concern. High myopia significantly raises the risk of various eye health problems, including glaucoma, certain types of cataracts, macular issues, and retinal detachments. Each additional dioptre of myopia is associated with an increased susceptibility to certain eye conditions and future visual impairment.  Therefore, closely monitoring and, if possible, slowing down the progression of myopia is crucial.

Fortunately, there is an increasing body of evidence in the literature supporting the implementation of strategies to reduce the progression of myopia, particularly if the progression exceeds half a dioptre per year. Some of these strategies involve the use of specialty progressive lens glasses, multifocal or myopia control contact lenses, orthokeratology (ortho K corneal shaping hard lenses), or myopia control lenses in glasses. At Tracton Optometrists, we adopt a personalized approach that takes into account the rate of myopia progression and the specific characteristics of your child’s prescription.

What we can do to reduce the progression of myopia

Research has indicated a correlation between sunlight exposure and the incidence of short-sightedness. Studies have shown that spending more than 2 hours outdoors in natural sunlight can reduce the risk of developing short-sightedness by as much as 50%. This highlights the importance of ensuring your child gets regular outdoor exposure during their childhood.

Another crucial aspect in managing myopia is exercising the lens in our eyes. Taking regular breaks from near tasks, such as screen time, is essential. The 20-20-20 rule is a helpful guideline to follow: every 20 minutes, encourage your child to look at something approximately 20 meters away for about 20 seconds. This simple practice helps to relax and exercise the eyes, contributing to the slowing of myopia progression. Given the increasing amount of time spent indoors and engaging with screens, it becomes even more critical to consciously incorporate sunlight exposure and eye movement exercises into our daily routines.

By being mindful of these factors and encouraging healthy visual habits, we can actively work towards reducing the risks associated with myopia. At Tracton Optometrists we emphasize the importance of outdoor activities and eye exercises as part of a holistic approach to managing myopia.

Myopia control spectacle lenses

Ensuring our children’s unhindered development is of utmost importance, and myopia should not be allowed to impede their progress. At Tracton Optometrists we use myopia control spectacle lenses which incorporate pioneering research in myopia control. We are witnessing a growing trend of myopia affecting younger children, which can be attributed in part to an increase in indoor lifestyles and prolonged engagement in near-focused activities. The earlier myopia develops in a child, the more severe their prescription tends to become. Approximately 80% of all learning occurs through vision, underscoring the critical need to address myopia and its potential impact on a child’s educational journey.

Myopia control lenses have been shown to slow down myopia progression, reducing the extent to which myopia develops throughout childhood.

One of the myopia control lenses used at Tracton Optometrists, Stellest myopia control lenses incorporate a unique constellation of lenslets that emit a specific signal into the eye, effectively controlling eye growth and consequently slowing down myopia progression. Studies have demonstrated that Stellest lenses reduce myopia progression by an impressive 67%. Additionally, when compared to non-myopic children, the eye growth of 9 out of 10 children wearing Stellest lenses was either similar or exhibited slower progression.

There are both short and long term benefits of reducing myopic progression. While using myopia control lenses the rate of myopia progression is slowed so that a child is experiencing good vision with their lenses for a longer time do not have periods of time when their lenses are not in line with their current prescription.  This minimises impact of poor vision on quality of life and learning.

Reduced myopia in the long term means improved lifelong vision.  A person with lower myopia resulting from myopia control will have a more simple optical prescription and require less expensive lenses.  There is also a significant reduction in  the risk of eye diseases including glaucoma, certain types of cataract, macular issues and retinal detachments.

At Tracton Optometrists, we are driven by our unwavering commitment in supporting children’s visual well-being.  Myopia control lenses can provide an effective solution to help manage myopia progression. We are dedicated to guiding parents and children through this journey, ensuring personalised care and comprehensive support.

Orthokeratology for myopia control

At Tracton Optometrists we treat myopia with the latest orthokeratology (Ortho-K) lenses available in the market. Ortho K involves the customised fitting of hard contact lenses which are worn at night. The primary goal of Ortho-K is to gently reshape the cornea, the front surface of the eye, through the controlled application of gentle pressure by the lenses. This reshaping effect allows for improved focusing power, leading to clear vision during the day without the need for corrective lenses. By providing excellent vision during waking hours, Ortho-K lenses can enhance the child’s visual experience and daily activities.

An important additional benefit of Ortho-K is its potential to slow down the progression of myopia. Numerous studies have shown that Ortho-K lenses have a positive impact on controlling myopia in children. By utilizing these lenses, we aim to address the concerns associated with high myopia, such as the increased risk of eye health issues later in life.

At Tracton Optometrists, our experienced professionals tailor the Ortho-K treatment to each child’s unique needs. Regular follow-up appointments are scheduled to monitor the progress and make any necessary adjustments.

Multifocal soft contact lenses for myopia control

Multifocal soft contact lenses were originally manufactured for presbyopic correction (vision after the age of 40) and have been more recently used for myopia control in teenagers and children. This type of product typically has alternating zones of distance and near in the lens which assists with focusing on near objects. This unique design makes them suitable for myopia control purposes. We offer a selection of myopia control lenses in this category, including the Misight lens and the Naturalvue Multifocal 1 Day lens.