Usually beginning in childhood and progressively worsening as the eye grows, Myopia is thought to affect around a third of people in the UK.

Sometimes known as short-sightedness, Myopia is the ability to see objects that are close clearly, but struggle to see objects that are further away. This may include items such as whiteboards in the classroom or a ball whilst playing sports. If your child is myopic, this is commonly because their eye is slightly longer than usual (from the front to the back). This causes light to focus in front of their retina, rather than focussing directly on it.

Myopia has traditionally been corrected with glasses or contact lenses (or both). However, modern advancements now mean that treatments are available which aim to slow down the progression of myopia during childhood. This is called Myopia Management.

If Myopia Management is successful, your child could grow up with a lower level of myopia than they would have had without treatment. This means that they may not depend on their spectacles as much as they would otherwise have had to, and the prescription for their spectacles will be lower resulting in thinner and lighter weight lenses.

There are three main options when considering Myopia Management so it’s important to choose the correct one for your lifestyle. Your Optometrist will be able to advise if you’re unsure which option to select.

Spectacles

These are specially designed spectacles. They look the same as traditional spectacles but work by changing the focus in the peripheral vision.

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Orthokeratology Contact Lenses

These are specially designed rigid gas-permeable (RGP) contact lenses. Worn overnight, the lenses help to alter the shape of the cornea whilst you sleep.

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Soft Daily Disposable Contact Lenses

These are specially designed contact lenses which are worn in a similar way to standard disposable contact lenses. Worn during the day, the lenses change the focus of light in the peripheral vision.

More information coming soon