What is Myopia
‘Short-sightedness’ or myopia is a common eye condition which makes things in the distance appear blurred. It usually begins in childhood and is the result of the eye growing beyond normal and becoming too long so spectacles or contact lenses are needed to see clearly.
More children are developing myopia and at a younger age than in previous generations and it is now predicted that by 2050 over half the world’s population will be myopic. This is due to a rise in indoor lifestyles and an increasing time spent on near activities. The younger the child develops myopia the more it progresses and the worse it becomes.
Studies show that high myopia may lead to severe vision impairment that can no longer be corrected through standard lenses and increases the risk of serious eye conditions later in life.
Lifestyle changes can be made to reduce the chances of becoming myopic and myopia increasing. These include spending more time outdoors and limiting time looking at screens but are difficult to achieve in the modern world children are being educated and brought up in.
There are now specially designed spectacle and contact lenses which slow the progression of myopia by over 60% on average, leaving a child less myopic than if left treated with standard lenses and so reducing their risk of sight complications when older.
Spectacle lenses
Normal spectacle lenses only focus a clear image onto the centre of the retina. Specialist myopia management lenses maintain a clear image across the whole retina by having a centre for distance viewing surrounded by hundreds of tiny lenslets which also keep the image clear on the outer part of the retina. Having the whole image in focus across the retina has been shown to remove the driver for excessive eye growth.
Only a registered optician can supply these lenses to children. Cosmetically the lenses appear normal and accurate fitting will ensure the child is always looking through the correct part of the lens. These lenses have been shown to slow myopia progression by over 60% but they are not currently funded by the NHS.
These treatments are often ongoing throughout a child's development so we offer a direct debit scheme to spread the cost and includes the costs of changes to prescription/replacing lenses, certain frames, all assessments including measuring the length of the eye and plotting eye health risk as well as accidental breakage and loss cover.
At Colin Lee and Jenks opticians we are approved distributors of Essilor Stellest and Hoya Miosmart lenses. Both options have shown to reduce the progression of myopia by over 60%.
Contact lenses
Myopia management contact lenses work on the same basis as the myopia management spectacle lenses, by having a centre for distance viewing surrounded by bands of different power zones which also keep the image clear on the outer part of the retina. Having the whole image in focus across the retina has been shown to remove the driver for excessive eye growth. Research has also shown these to slow myopia progression by over 60%.
These lenses are daily disposable so offer the best in eye health, require minimal maintenance and so are suitable for children of all ages.
We have contact lens opticians at all practices who are trained in fitting Misight and Natural view Myopia management licenced lenses. These too are available on direct debit including the costs off all products and aftercare appointments.
We offer these lenses as part of our VeyeP myopia eyecare plan.
For a monthly fee we can track myopia progression most accurately by measuring the length of the eye (axial length) using a specialist device, aswell as regular check ups to monitor change. The plan includes all spectacle lenses or contact lenses and a large selection of frames aswell as insurance against any loss, damage, scratches and changes in prescription all covered without additional charge, all for one manageable monthly fee.