What is myopia control for children?

Has your child been told they are short-sighted? Perhaps you are too and you’re all set to help them pick out their new prescription glasses each time their short-sightedness deteriorates, just as you did when you were a child. But did you know that eyecare has advanced considerably over the years and today you can actually help slow the progression of your child’s short-sightedness? This is called myopia control and it’s a service we’re proud to offer at Orpington Eyecare, your opticians in Orpington.

What is myopia?

Myopia is the clinical name for short-sightedness, which means you can’t focus properly on objects in the distance. As children grow, so do their eyes, but sometimes they can become too elongated, which is what results in myopia. It’s a condition that is on the rise with more children experiencing myopia at younger ages.

This condition tends to stabilise by their mid-20s but up until then, it can worsen considerably. The more severe myopia becomes, the greater the risk your child faces of developing other eye conditions later in life, such as retinal detachment, myopic degeneration and glaucoma.

Managing myopia

MiSight® lenses offer an effective solution to slow the progression of your child’s myopia. These soft contact lenses take a little practice to pop in and out, but we find children even as young as 8 tend to adapt well to them and enjoy the responsibility that comes with wearing contact lenses. MiSight® 1 day contact lenses correct your child’s vision but have also been designed to slow down the rate of myopia in children by over 50%.

Are MiSight® 1 day contact lenses right for your child?

MiSight® lenses suitable for children aged 8 upwards who have mild to moderate myopia. But this isn’t the only solution we provide to better manage your child’s myopia. We also offer Ortho K contact lenses which are rigid lenses that are only worn at night to correct your vision and also slow down myopia progression.

To find out which option is right for your child, all you need to do is book your child in for an eye examination first at Orpington Eyecare this half-term, so we can discuss the next steps and begin your child’s journey to healthier vision.