Do you have questions about myopia? Q&A with expert optician

[CeriMumsnet]

This Q&A is now closed. Thanks to everyone who shared a question on myopia for Charlotte, you can see the answers here.

Don't forget to sign up to attend Essilor's Class of Myopia event in Kensington on Friday 29 November to learn more!

We’re working with Essilor’s expert dispensing optician, Charlotte Timbury, to answer your questions about myopia (short-sightedness) in children. Whether you have questions about how myopia is detected, or you’d like some advice on how to manage your child’s myopia, Charlotte and Essilor are here to help.

• Post your questions on the thread below.
• Everyone who shares a question on the thread below by 12/11 will be entered into a prize draw to win a £200 voucher
• Charlotte will be online in a few weeks to answer some of your questions.
• To learn more about short-sightedness in children, sign up here to attend Essilor’s ‘Class of Myopia’ event for families on 29 November.

About the expert
Charlotte Timbury FBDO qualified as a dispensing optician in 2002. With over twenty years’ experience in optics, she began her career in a highly successful, independent practice before joining Essilor in 2014. Here she has held various roles from business development manager to professional relations; a role with a primary focus on developing and delivering education and training to the industry as well as other support to various optical bodies. Charlotte is now the North Europe medical and professional affairs director for EssilorLuxottica, the manufacturers of Essilor® Stellest® lenses.

Here’s what Essilor® Stellest® lenses has to say:

“By 2025, myopia is predicted to impact half(1) of the World’s population and a
staggering one billion people are predicted to have high myopia. Higher degrees of myopia pose a greater risk of ocular complications that may lead to visual impairment or even blindness later in life. However, the earlier myopia is detected and managed in a child, the greater the chance progression can be slowed down with simple lifestyle changes and wearing a myopia control spectacle lens such as Essilor® Stellest® lenses.

A new survey(2) commissioned by Essilor® Stellest® lenses amongst 1,000 UK parents has also revealed gaps in knowledge around myopia in children, with 94% of parents of myopic children wrongly believing that wearing glasses will solve the problem.”

Thanks and good luck!
MNHQ
Insight Terms and Conditions apply

References:

1. Source: Holden BA, Fricke TR, Wilson DA, et al. Global Prevalence of Myopia and High Myopia and Temporal Trends from 2000 through 2050. Ophthalmology. 2016;123(5):1036-1042.doi:10.1016/j.ophtha.2016.01.006
2. International survey conducted by Ipsos in 6 countries on 6007 parents with at least one child aged from 5 to 17, from a representative sample of individuals aged from 25 to 60 in terms of age, gender, occupation, region. UK: 1000 interviews / Italy: 1001 interviews / France: 1000 interviews / Brazil: 1001 interviews / India: 1005 interviews / China: 1000 interviews. Online interviews from June 24th to July 15th 2024

Hi @Ilostmyhalo Although several factors have been linked to the onset and development of myopia, lifestyle changes is a significant one. We know there is a link between the amount of time spent on close work activities -whether on screen or paper- and the development of myopia. There are also studies that show that a lack of exposure to natural light can disrupt the growth of the eye, and thus encourage the development of myopia. Generally when children are on screens, they are less likely to be outside therefore they could be at risk of developing myopia earlier on. Regular eye tests and encouraging outdoor play can help monitor and reduce the risk.

Hi @aimex146 When it comes to myopia (short-sightedness), there is no evidence to suggest that holding off wearing your glasses will correct or delay your prescription. In fact, studies show that not wearing the correct prescription – whether through glasses or contact lenses – may even accelerate their myopia (1,2,3). That’s why it’s so important for children to have regular eye exams, as recommended by your eye care professional, to ensure their vision is properly managed.

1.Chung, K., Mohidin, N., O’Leary, D.J., 2002. Undercorrection of myopia enhances rather than inhibits myopia progression. Vision Res. 42, 2555–2559.
2. Adler, D., Millodot, M., 2006.
The possible effect of undercorrection on myopic progression in children.
Clin. Exp. Optom. 89, 315–321.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1444-0938.2006.00055.x
3. Logan, N. S., & Wolffsohn, J. S. (2020). Role of un‐correction, under‐correction and over‐correction of myopia as a strategy for slowing myopic progression. Clinical and Experimental Optometry, 103(2), 133-137.

Hi @MilaMilliMuni Your eye care professional will ensure that the glasses frames are fitting perfectly and sitting straight when worn. This means vision will be unaffected and the child will be able to see perfectly well. Generally people are not fully symmetrical so frames always need adjusting. It's important to regularly check the fitting of the frame too in case any wear and tear causes them to be bent out of shape- especially with children! Keeping the fit in check can help maintain optimal vision and comfort.

Hi @ButterOllocks Depending on the prescription, your prescribing eye care professional will advise when your child needs to wear their glasses. For example, if they are only for reading and close study, they may choose to remove them at break time. However, if they are to correct a short-sighted prescription, your child is generally best placed to wear them all day. This is especially true if they are wearing a type of myopia management spectacle lens such as Essilor® Stellest® lenses, in which the wearing time is important to achieve the maximum efficacy. There are also many durable but comfortable frames that won’t interfere with play. If activity is a concern, contact lenses may be an option, depending on the prescription and the optician’s advice. Many children are suitable for contact lenses, and your optician will help determine the best choice for your child’s needs.

Hi @girlwhowearsglasses Depending on your exact prescription and suitability, it may be possible to explore surgical interventions however it is important to be advised of all of the benefits and risks associated with them. You would need to speak to a specialist ophthalmologist for this. Additionally, it's worth considering other contact lens options, as advancements in technology continue to improve and may offer a more comfortable fit. Your eye care professional can help guide you to the most suitable solution based on your needs.

Hi @magpie10 It sounds like you are using all the optical interventions available to you to slow the myopia progression as much as you can. Other good lifestyle advice is to try and limit the time spent on close work activities and also to try and spend around 2 hours a day outside. This is because myopia onset and progression has been linked to both of these things. Keep in mind that other factors, such as parental history and ethnic background, are predetermined, but the good news is that lifestyle changes and optical interventions can still make a significant difference.

Hi @MerlinsButler As the lens in our eye becomes less flexible over time, we often start to become more long sighted from our mid-forties onwards. It is not uncommon for short-sighted patients to start to notice an improvement in their vision. However this is unlikely to affect your astigmatism and you will likely still need to wear vision correction. It is important to maintain regular eye examinations to ensure the overall health of your eyes.

Hi @Crampulet Family history of myopia is a significant factor to determine if a child will become myopic. A child whose parents are both myopic is, for example, up to five times more likely to become so. If one parent is myopic, the child may be twice as likely to develop myopia than a child with parents unaffected by the condition (1,2).

1.Jones L, Sinnott L, Mutti D, Mitchell G, Moeschberger M. Parental history of myopia, sports and outdoor activities, and future myopia. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 2007; 48(8): 3524-3532.
2.Donovan L, Sankaridurg P, Ho A, Naduvilath T, Smith EL 3rd, Holden BA. Myopia progression rates in urban children wearing single-vision spectacles. Optom Vis Sci. 2012;89(1):27-32. doi:10.1097/OPX.0b013e3182357f79

Hi @SkylarH Myopia cannot be "cured," but in some cases, natural changes in the eye over time can reduce the degree of short-sightedness, which may make you less reliant on glasses. However, in cases where myopia is progressive, it is typically associated with the elongation of the eyeball. This causes light to focus in front of the retina, leading to blurry distance vision, and unfortunately, this is unlikely to improve with age. Regular monitoring by an eye care professional is essential, especially if myopia progression is suspected.

Hi @SmartiesParty At 8 months old, the visual system of a child is not quite fully developed so it is normal to notice some discrepancies in what you expect them to see and what they can actually see well. At this age, their close range vision will be better that their far vision, but by around 10-12 months they should be able to distinguish between near and far objects.

Hi @Cantthinkofadifferentname A key factor on achieving success with myopia control solutions (glasses and contact lenses) is the duration of wear- basically the longer she can wear them, the better the results we would expect to see. So I would advise for her to wear her myopia spectacle lenses for the majority of the day and just use contact lenses for occasional use. Alternatively, you could explore myopia progression control contact lenses to see if they are also an option for her.

@CharlotteEssilor very reassuring. Thanks

Hi @Redburnett Cataracts are a very common condition that occurs when the natural lens in the eye becomes less flexible and starts to crystallise, resulting in clouded vision. The good news is that cataract surgery is a simple and effective procedure to replace the cloudy lens, restoring your vision. Thanks to advancements in ophthalmic surgery, your prescription can often be incorporated into the new lens, potentially reducing or eliminating the need for glasses or contact lenses. Your ophthalmologist will discuss the options available and recommend the best approach to ensure the best results after surgery.

Hi @Magicmagician It's great to hear that your child has seen an optometrist and that her condition has been identified. While her glasses will help correct her vision for now, there are a few additional steps that can support her eye health in the long run:

• Ensure she wears her glasses as recommended.
• Encourage regular breaks from close-up tasks like reading or screen time. A helpful tip is the 20-20-20 rule: every 20 minutes, have her look at something 20 feet away for at least 20 seconds, to relieve eyestrain.
• Put down the iPad, phone, or tablet, and make sure she heads outside! Outdoor time is a great way to give her eyes a break from close-up work.

Hi @beginnerwitch When it comes to myopia (short-sightedness), there is no evidence to suggest that holding off wearing your glasses will correct or delay your prescription. In fact, studies show that not wearing the correct prescription – whether through glasses or contact lenses – may even accelerate their myopia (1,2,3). That’s why it’s so important for children to have regular eye exams, as recommended by your eye care professional, to ensure their vision is properly managed.

1.Chung, K., Mohidin, N., O’Leary, D.J., 2002. Undercorrection of myopia enhances rather than inhibits myopia progression. Vision Res. 42, 2555–2559.
2. Adler, D., Millodot, M., 2006. The possible effect of undercorrection on myopic progression in children. Clin. Exp. Optom. 89, 315–321. doi.org/10.1111/j.1444-0938.2006.00055.x

1. Logan, N. S., & Wolffsohn, J. S. (2020). Role of un‐correction, under‐correction and over‐correction of myopia as a strategy for slowing myopic progression. Clinical and Experimental Optometry, 103(2), 133-137.

Hi @Inezz Myopia develops when the length of the eyeball increases as the child grows, meaning light entering the eye does not focus on the retina and the brain perceives a blurred image. If the eyeball continues to grow, this results in the myopia developing further. Some of the factors that impact the onset of myopia are out of our control, such as family history, however some good pieces of lifestyle advice include maintaining regular eye exams, taking regular breaks from close work and spending 2 hours a day outside. These also promote good eye health, not just relating to myopia.

Hi @ShinyBeans If she has been prescribed spectacles to correct her myopia then it is important that she wears them to enable her to see as well as possible. It is true that standard spectacle lenses will correct myopia whereas myopia progression control spectacle lenses such as Essilor® Stellest® lenses will both correct and control it. Speak to your eye care professional to ask if they offer any payment plans to make the cost of such a solution more manageable. Unfortunately myopia progression control glasses and contact lens are not fully covered on the NHS but you may be entitled to a voucher to go towards some of the cost- ask your eye care professional to check if you are eligible.

Hi @MountainBiker Essilor® Stellest® lenses are designed to slow down myopia progression whilst also correcting vision. As with any solution, efficacy is at it's best when they are worn for the recommended period of time and Essilor® Stellest® lenses are clinically proven to slow down myopia progression by 67% on average, when worn for 12 hours a day*(1).

*Two-year prospective, controlled, randomized, double-masked clinical trial results on 54 myopic children wearing Essilor® Stellest® lenses compared to 50 myopic children wearing single vision lenses in Wenzhou China. Results based on 32 children from the Test Group wearing Essilor® Stellest® lenses at least 12 hours per day every day for two consecutive years.

1. Bao, J., et al. Spectacle lenses with aspherical lenslets for myopia control vs single-vision spectacle lenses: a randomized clinical trial. JAMA Ophthalmol. 2022;140(5):472–478;

Hi @zebrapig Myopia progression control spectacle lenses such as Essilor® Stellest® lenses are clinically proven to slow down myopia progression by 67% on average, when worn for 12 hours a day*(1). This could mean the difference between having a lower prescription later in life or a higher (stronger) one which could result in complications associated with high myopia, thicker, more expensive lenses and reduced frame choice. Unfortunately myopia progression control glasses and contact lens are not fully covered by the NHS but you may be entitled to a voucher to go towards some of the cost- ask your eye care professional to check if you are eligible. Some eye care professionals may also have payment plans to spread the cost of the lenses to make it more manageable.

*Two-year prospective, controlled, randomized, double-masked clinical trial results on 54 myopic children wearing Essilor® Stellest® lenses compared to 50 myopic children wearing single vision lenses in Wenzhou China. Results based on 32 children from the Test Group wearing Essilor® Stellest® lenses at least 12 hours per day every day for two consecutive years.

1. Bao, J., et al. Spectacle lenses with aspherical lenslets for myopia control vs single-vision spectacle lenses: a randomized clinical trial. JAMA Ophthalmol. 2022;140(5):472–478;

Hi @AllBranEater Whether there is a history of myopia in the family or not, NHS guidance is to take children for their first eye exam to an eye care professional from around 4 years old. If you have any concerns over their vision before then, you can speak to your GP, health visitor (if still under them) or your local eye care professional and they can advise on the next steps.

Hi @TaylorSwish In the same way that both glasses and contact lenses can help correct myopia, there are also myopia management solutions available in both glasses and contact lenses. Speak to your local eye care professional to find out what the best option is for you.

Hi @ButterOllocks Long-sightedness can be hereditary and, just like myopia (short-sightedness) it is important to have regular eye examinations as recommended by your optician. However, myopia management treatments are not suitable for long-sighted prescriptions and instead, you will likely need to look into corrective spectacles or contact lenses.

Hi @Ilostmyhalo Research shows that while myopia progression cannot be reversed, solutions like Essilor® Stellest® lenses have been shown to help slow it down.

Hi @DenDenDenise Changes in the head and skull do not generally impact children's vision but the growth of the eyes do. As children grow, if their eyeball grows at a faster rate it will become longer. This results in blurred vision at a distance and sharper vision at close range because the light does not focus on the retina.

Hi @Montydoo getting children to wear their glasses can be tricky, especially if none of their friends do. It's important to explain the benefits of wearing the glasses, for example he will see much better for things like watching movies or playing with his friends. Try and find out why he is not happy to wear them- if it is down to comfort, take him to the optician to check the fitting. If it is due to style, maybe you can select a new frame together that he likes and is more likely to wear? Suggest styles that may be worn by someone he admires, perhaps a family member or famous person. Alternatively, if he is really unhappy in wearing them, you could explore whether contact lenses could be an option. Your local eye care professional will be able to advise you on his suitability.