Myopia Management
At Carterton Opticians, we believe prevention is better than cure. As Myopia is ever increasing there is also an increased risk of vision loss associate with the condition. There is no safe level of myopia but the higher the myopia the more likely you are to get conditions such as retinal detachment, myopic maculopathy, glaucoma and cataracts. Historically, there was no way to control the progression of myopia and in most cases it would gradually worsen over time until your mid 20s. We are pleased to offer a way of helping to slow it down. The lower we can keep it the less likely of complications as we get older.
The prevalence of myopia is projected to increase from approximately two billion people worldwide in 2010 to almost five billion people in 20501, bringing with it near- and long-term health challenges. In fact, the proportion of young people with myopia in the UK has more than doubled over the last 50 years, in those aged between 10–16 years and children are becoming myopic at a younger age2.
“Myopia’s growth has been dizzying, and now affects the vast majority of young adults in some countries, especially in East Asia,” said Arthur Back, Chief Technology Officer for CooperVision and a leading voice on myopia management. “Not only does it create blurred vision, but also increases the likelihood of conditions later in life such as glaucoma, cataract, retinal detachment and myopic maculopathy if not addressed.”
Innovative optical design
MiSight® 1 day daily disposable contact lens with ActivControl® myopia management technology is as easy to fit as a single-vision contact lens offering a simple convenient myopia management therapy compared with alternative treatment options.
MiSight® 1 day contact lenses control both axial length increase and myopia progression while fully correcting refractive error3,4
We offer soft contact lenses to manage myopia:
Myopia Management Soft Contact Lenses
Introducing MiSight Contact Lenses from Coopervision
Misight are Daily Disposable Soft Contact Lenses which not only give excellent comfort and clear vision, but they also slow down the rate of myopia progression.
We now offer special spectacle lenses, called MyoStem, to manage myopia:
How do the lenses work?
The centre of each MyoStem lens contains your child’s normal spectacle prescription, providing clear vision for everyday activities such as schoolwork, watching television and seeing the board at school.
Around this central area, the lens contains specially designed treatment zones. These alter the focus of light in the peripheral retina, creating what is known as “myopic defocus”.
With ordinary single-vision lenses, peripheral light may focus behind the retina. This can encourage the eye to continue growing longer. MyoStem’s treatment zones bring this peripheral light forward, providing the eye with a signal that may help reduce further excessive growth.
Your child does not need to do anything special to activate the treatment—the lens design works whenever the spectacles are being worn.
Why is slowing myopia important?
Myopia is more than simply needing stronger spectacles. Higher levels of myopia are associated with an increased lifetime risk of eye conditions including:
- Retinal detachment
- Myopic macular degeneration
- Glaucoma
- Cataract
These risks generally increase as the level of myopia becomes higher. We cannot normally reverse myopia that has already developed, but slowing its progression during childhood may help your child finish growing with a lower prescription and healthier eyes in later life.
Getting the best results
MyoStem lenses should normally be worn throughout the day, following the advice of your optometrist. The lenses must be carefully measured and positioned in the frame so that your child looks through the correct areas.
Regular appointments are also important. We will monitor:
- Your child’s vision and prescription
- How well the spectacles fit
- Whether the myopia is progressing
- The health of your child’s eyes
Spending more time outdoors may also help reduce the risk of myopia developing or progressing. Children should still follow sensible sun-protection advice.
What should parents expect?
Most children adapt quickly to the lenses and wear them like ordinary spectacles. MyoStem lenses cannot guarantee that myopia will stop completely, and some progression may still occur. Their purpose is to slow the rate of progression while providing clear, comfortable everyday vision.
If you have any concerns about your child’s vision, spectacles or adaptation to the lenses, please contact us rather than asking them to stop wearing the spectacles without advice.
Source: MyoStem is described by Lab3Sixty as a peripheral-defocus myopia-management spectacle lens. Product information is available from Lab3Sixty.