Why does my child need a Myopia Clinic?
Myopia, or short-sightedness, is caused by the eye being slightly longer than necessary, we use glasses or contact lenses to correct the focus and ensure clear vision. Typically we become myopic whilst we are growing- either as a teenager or a child. Myopic adults will recognise the pattern of needing stronger glasses regularly throughout their growing years.
Studies show that myopia is increasing worldwide and each generation is getting more myopic than their parents.
Being myopic carries a significant increase in risk of many eye conditions- glaucoma, macular degeneration, retinal detachment to name a few. This increase (or progression) of myopia has been studied now for decades and we have some answers as to why it happens and what we can do to slow it down, reducing the risk of eye disease and vision loss in later life.
Introducing Myopia Management
Myopia Management is the term we use for a variety of strategies to slow down the progression of myopia. These vary from lifestyle advice to contact lenses and spectacle lenses specifically designed, and clinically proven, to reduce progression by as much as 60%!
Morven has been active in this area of optometry for a number of years now, she is passionate about being able to help her young patients. She says 'Myopia management is so important because the interventions I make now can have a massive positive impact on the health of my young patients for the rest of their lives!'
Research in this area is very active and we learn new things regularly- by having an optometrist who specialises in myopia management you can be sure you always get the best advice.
More information on myopia and myopia management can be found on myopiafocus.org where Morven is a member of the advisory committee. Please also consider signing the change.org/myopiafocus campaign to get NHS to fund Myopia Management for Children.
What are the options?
Contact Lens Options
There are both soft daily lens options (MiSight and Naturalvue both show excellent results) plus Bloom Night - a hard lens worn overnight to correct vision, meaning your child wears no glasses or contact lenses throughout the day.
Age is rarely a barrier to contact lenses, Morven will be delighted to discuss options with you.
Spectacle Lens Options
Morven was the first accredited optometrist in Glasgow to fit MiyoSmart- an ingenious spectacle lens for myopia management, designed and intensively studied at the University of Hong Kong, showing 60% reduction in progression over a 2 year period.
Clinical Trials
Clinical Trials
Clinical Trials
Studies are ongoing to discover new ways to help, a new study is currently running at Glasgow Caledonian University, ask for more details.
Lifestyle Advice
Clinical Trials
Clinical Trials
There are some good habits to get into that protect against progression of myopia, including increasing time outdoors and managed patterns of reading, including all digital devices!