Myopia Management near Ruislip & Northwood

Short-sightedness, or myopia, is the condition where the eye struggles to see distant objects clearly.

Ordinarily, light rays converge at the back of the eye, specifically on the retina, ensuring clear vision. However, in a myopic eye, these rays focus in front of the retina, leading to the formation of a blurred image on the retina. Correction for this vision problem typically involves the use of glasses or contact lenses.

The severity of myopia is gauged in negative numbers known as diopters, with three general classifications:

Mild Myopia: from -0.25 to -2.75

Moderate Myopia: from -3.00 to -5.00

High Myopia: greater than -5.00

Myopia tends to become more prevalent in children as they age, with the likelihood increasing between 6 and 13 years. It often has a hereditary component, as nearly 1 in 3 children develops short-sightedness when one parent is myopic, and the likelihood rises even further when both parents are myopic (1 in 2 children).

Parents often underestimate the risks associated with myopia in children. While correcting vision with glasses is a viable option, it may not prevent the worsening of your child's myopia. If left untreated, myopia in children can progress over time, potentially developing into high myopia.

Individuals with high myopia face an elevated risk of experiencing sight-threatening conditions and complications in eye health throughout their lives. These may include glaucoma, cataracts, macular degeneration, and retinal detachment.

This underscores the importance of myopia control practices, specifically designed to slow down the progression of short-sightedness in children. Our qualified opticians are well-versed in the complications and discomfort associated with myopia, strongly advising parents to explore available myopia control options for their children.

Optimal utilisation of myopia control methods begins with early detection. Children's eye tests play a pivotal role in this process. If you suspect that your child is experiencing shortsightedness, scheduling an eye test is the initial and crucial step to take.

It's worth noting that not all parents are aware that children can undergo eye tests at any age. For those who are still unable to read, we utilise special charts designed for recognizing shapes and pictures.

Once your child's myopia is identified, corrective spectacles become necessary. At this point, you have the option to consider myopia control measures.

Introducing a groundbreaking solution from renowned spectacle manufacturers HOYA – the MiyoSmart lens, specifically designed for controlling myopia in children. These lenses serve a dual purpose, providing both vision correction and myopia management.

MiyoSmart lenses include a focus zone for comprehensive vision correction and a unique ring-shaped treatment zone designed to slow down myopia progression, thanks to the innovative Defocus Incorporated Multiple Segments (D.I.M.S.) Technology.

Based on the results of a two-year clinical trial involving 160 children aged 8-13, MiyoSmart has demonstrated its efficacy by reducing myopia progression in children by an average of 59%. The study also revealed that children using MiyoSmart lenses experienced, on average, a 60% reduction in axial elongation (length of the eye) compared to those wearing standard lenses.