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MYOPIA

Myopia is short sight. It causes poor vision in the distance and in order to see people need to wear glasses.

Myopia is increasing world-wide at an alarming rate. Not only that, but children are becoming myopic much earlier in life.

Higher levels of myopia is associated with increased risk of eye problems such as glaucoma, cataract, retinal detachment, and myopic maculopathy caused by the elongation of the eye in myopia which stretches the retina and makes it thin and liable to break and tear.

SLOWING THE PROGRESSION...

OF SHORT-SIGHTEDNESS.

WHY IS MYOPIA A PROBLEM?

The eye becomes larger as myopia develops. The retina then stretches and becomes thinner.  This increases the risk that the retina might tear and in turn can cause significant sight problems.

Even slightly short sighted people have a greater lifelong likelihood of eye disease than non-myopes. The higher the myopia, the higher the risk becomes.

 

Myopes between -3.00 and -5.75D have 3-fold increase in the risk of retinal detachment compared to non-myopic children. For myopes over -6.00D the relative risk is nearly 22 times as great.

Close up of man and womens eyes

CAN MYOPIA BE SLOWED DOWN?

Yes. Non-pharmacological approaches include special single vision spectacle lenses for example, MYOSMART©, multifocal spectacles, dual-focus contact lenses (monthly or daily disposable) and Ortho-K contact lenses which are worn at night and removed in the morning to give good vision all day and control of short sight can slow progression in a large proportion of young people with progressive myopia. 

Strong evidence also exists that spending time outdoors can protect against the onset of myopia and possibly reduce the final level of adult myopia.  When children spend more than two hours per day outdoors the risk of myopia is reduced, even when they have two myopic parents and continue to perform near work.

FUTURE-PROOFING VISION

Young Bog Wearing Glasses Playing Chess

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

MYOPIA CARE

  • Can you check for colour-blindness in children?
    Yes. Even those children who do not know their numbers can be checked using a special children's version of the colour vision test.
  • Do you treat eye muscle problems and lazy eyes?
    Yes. We have optometrists with a special interest in this area and dedicated vision therapists. See our page on vision therapy.
  • Do you supply coloured overlays and filters?
    We provide coloured overlays and Precision Tinted spectacle Lenses for all ages. For more info click here.
  • Do you see children with learning difficulties?
    Of course. We are fully committed to offering a full service to all our patients, whatever their needs. If your child has complex needs, it can be helpful to let us know in advance so we can make sure that we know how best to meet them.
  • What if my child can't read?
    No problem. We have special pictures and matching tests. We will make the eye examination seem like a game and as fun as we can.
  • What if my child is non-verbal?
    No need to worry - we can still examine a non-verbal child using special tests and images.
  • What if my child doesn't cooperate?
    Some children are anxious at first, particularly if they've never had their eyes tested before - we're used to it! We'll always do as much as we can on the first visit, but we'd always rather ask patients to come back again to finish off rather than rush their eye test.
  • Will my wheelchair fit?
    Yes. The front door and all the doors downstairs will accommodate wheelchairs, walking frames, Tri-rollers and Rollators.
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