Myopia Control
Myopia Control
What is myopia? ‘Near-sighted’ or ‘short-sighted’ are more commonly known terms for myopia. A myopic person cannot see clearly in the distance, but they have clear sight up-close. Currently 28% of the global population are myopic. It is estimated that by 2050, 50% of the global population will be myopic (a staggering 5 billion people!). With this increasing prevalence of myopia worldwide, methods of myopia control are becoming research topics of great interest. Myopia usually starts in childhood and teenage years and generally progresses as the eyes continue to grow.
Why is myopia a problem? Apart from the obvious blurred vision in the distance without glasses, and the increasing dependence on glasses with increasing myopia, there are also eye health risks. Increased levels of short-sightedness increases the risk of sight threatening problems such at retinal detachments, myopic maculopathy, and glaucoma. Thus, early intervention by parents, in partnership with eye care professionals, is essential for the health and well-being of their children.
Who is at most at risk of developing myopia? We know that more children, in urban areas particularly, are developing myopia. We also know that children who have one myopic parent are 3 times more likely to develop myopia, and children with two myopic parents are 7 times more likely to develop myopia. Research has also shown that time spent outdoors helps to reduce myopic progression and those that spend too little time outdoors are more at risk of myopic progression. Parents should encourage a minimum of 14 hours per week of daylight exposure.
What can be done to help children with progressing myopia? Myopia control contact lenses, Misight®1 Day, optically correct myopia, giving clear distance and near vision. Misight® has been proven to slow the progression of myopia in children.
In a multi-centre, double-masked, randomised three year study which enrolled 144 myopic children aged 8-12 years from Singapore, Canada, England, and Portugal, Misight®, which is a specially-designed, dual-focus myopia control 1-day soft contact lens, was found to reduce the rate of progression of juvenile-onset myopia by over 50% over a three year period when compared to the children in the control group wearing a single vision 1-day contact lens. No other prospective randomised controlled study has shown data for such a high degree of continued efficacy in myopia management over three years.
What are the benefits of choosing MiSight® over ordinary contact lenses or specs? MiSight® aims to reduce myopic progression, thus reducing the chances of developing sight threatening problems associated with higher myopia (-6.00D or more). Ordinary spectacle and contact lens corrections only optically correct myopia, but they do not have any significant impact on myopic progression.
Are there any other benefits to these contact lenses? Wearing contact lenses may improve the self-esteem of children and teenagers in terms of their ability to participate in sporting activities and their social acceptance. In a recent study over a three-year period of children ages 8-15 years old, 90% preferred wearing their MiSight® 1 Day contact lenses over wearing their specs, and 100% of parents said their children were happy with the experience of wearing contact lenses, including comfort, ease of use and freedom from spectacles.
Would you like to know more? Call our practice on 045897029 to ask for more information on MiSight® or email info@teahans.ie to request the MiSight® information leaflet.
MiSight® manufacturer Coopervision have promised to donate 5% of MiSight® revenue to the Optometry Giving Sight charity
