Myopia?
You may have come across the terms short or near-sightedness before, this is how myopia is often described. For someone with myopia, often close objects will be clearly focused but those in the distance are blurred.
Unfortunately, myopia creates a stretching effect on the retina due to the eye becoming elongated. This means that there is an increased risk of developing eye diseases later in life which can lead to permanent vision loss.
A true health emergency
Today, myopia represents a true health emergency since it currently affects almost 30% of the world’s population and it is estimated that it will affect 50% of the world’s population in 2050. No time to lose!
Little is said about it, but myopia begins at a very young age. Today, the situation is much worse. We have to bear in mind that our children start using electronic devices earlier and earlier, and their eyes are not prepared for this. Their visual health is at risk. This is real, and it is happening.
Early onset of myopia is the most important predictor of high myopia in later life which is why it is so important to consider myopia management options for children.
Spectacles
Imperium – Myopia Management spectacle lenses combine science and expertise to protect children’s visual health effectively and safely. To do this, Imperium corrects and ultimately controls the progression of myopia. In this way, we reduce the chances of suffering from eye diseases such as myopic maculopathy, which is the most common and serious sight-threatening complication of myopia.
Contact lenses
There are two types of contact lenses that may be used to manage myopia:
- Soft contact lenses
Designed to change the focus of light in the peripheral vision
Your child would wear these in a similar way to standard contact lenses. Their vision may be slightly less clear with these than with traditional contact lenses.
- Ortho-K lenses
Orthokeratology or corneal-reshaping lenses
Your child would be fitted with specially designed rigid gaspermeable (RGP) lenses, which they would wear overnight. These lenses help to alter the shape of the cornea while your child sleeps, in order to temporarily reduce or correct mild myopia and reduce the progression of myopia.
In the meantime...
- Encourage as much outdoor time as possible: recommended 13 hours per week.
- Wear sunglasses for UV protection when outside in bright sunlight.
- Limit screentime to reduce digital eye strain.
- 20/20/20 rule: every 20 minutes of near screen use, look up at something 20 feet away for 20 sec.
- Elbow rule: when viewing anything at a close distance, keep it at least a palm-elbow length away.
Book an eye test
If you think your child may be short-sighted, you should book an eye test. You should have a routine eye test at least every two years, but you can have a test at any point if you have any concerns about your vision.
