Myopia Control

Myopia, also known as near-sightedness or short-sightedness, is becoming more common each year, with children being affected at a younger age. It is now thought to affect around one in 3 people in the UK, and that number is growing. Genes are part of the reason for this, with a child having a 50% chance of developing myopia if both parents have it and around a 30% chance if one parent is myopic.

Myopia explained

Myopia means that objects near you are clear and focused, but those in the distance appear blurred. It is caused by a small abnormality in the shape of the eye which means light entering the eye lands in front of the retina instead of directly on it. This could be because the eyeball is too long or the cornea at the front of the eye is more curved than it should be.

While research shows that your genes have a say in whether you will be myopic or not, this is not the only factor. It is thought that spending too much time indoors and prolonged periods using your near vision, such as looking at a screen, can contribute to the risk of developing myopia.

Developing myopia at a young age isn’t as simple as needing glasses. It is something that can increase with age, meaning a higher chance of high myopia. High myopia is linked to an increased risk of developing other eye diseases including retinal tears or detachment, glaucoma and cataracts.

Managing myopia

Glasses or contact lenses are used to correct myopia, but technology has advanced in recent years to the point where there are now lenses available that not only correct vision but also stabilise it and slow the progression of myopia.

MiYOSMART glasses lenses from Hoya Vision have been developed to combat myopia and can slow the progression by up to 60%. They look just like normal single-vision lenses but use advanced technology called Defocus Incorporated Multiple Segments (DIMS). This means that part of the lens is devoted to treatment that slows myopia while the rest of the lens corrects your vision.

The lenses are designed to fit in with a child’s active life, made from impact-resistant material with an anti-reflective coating that is easy to clean, plus UV protection. We have a great range of frames designed for children to go with these excellent lenses.

As well as wearing MiYOSMART glasses, we also recommend that children spend at least 2 hours a day outside as this has also been shown to help slow the progression of myopia.

Find out more

Get in touch to find out more about myopia control options, or to book an appointment to ensure your child’s prescription is up to date and get them set up with MiYOSMART glasses.