MYOPIA CONTROL FOR CHILDREN IN SOUTH EAST LONDON
Myopia is more commonly known as short-sightedness in children. Meaning, that their vision can appear blurry for things in the distance, such as the whiteboard at school, but close-up items are much clearer – such as books and screens.
Myopia has historically been treated with spectacles and contact lenses which have corrected vision, however, in children the amount of short sight they have can increase. This can be due to the length of the eye increasing – myopic children can have longer length eyes which can cause other eye complications in later life.
MYOPIA CONTROL EXPERTS IN LONDON
Here at Coton & Hamblin, we pride ourselves on our myopia control services. We provide specialist spectacles lenses and contact lenses that can help slow down the progression of myopia.
Now thanks to decades of ongoing research, at the Woolwich practice we are now able to predict the rate of your child’s myopic progression, by measuring the length of the eye (axial length) and taking their current spectacle power. This means we are able to help support your child and their myopia.
Please note, this myopia control is an additional test and not funded by the NHS – the fee is £25. How often the measurement is required would be discussed at each review.
SYMPTOMS OF MYOPIA IN CHILDREN
If you are concerned about whether your child has Myopia, please speak to one of our Optometrists if any of these apply to you child:
- already short sighted
- is under 16 years old
- spends less than 1.5 hours outside every day
- spends more than 2 hours reading or using handheld digital devices daily (outside of school)
- Has one or more parents who are short-sighted (although 1 in 4 people are myopic even if neither parent is)
If you are unsure and you just want to be certain you are taking the best care of your child’s eyes, then our Optometrists will happily discuss further and in more detail about myopia and the products we have available
WHAT TREATMENT CAN BE OFFERED FOR MYOPIA?
At Coton & Hamblin, we offer a range of services to help and improve the symptoms of childhood myopia. Your Optometrist will discuss with you the best course of action for your child.
Night Lenses – Orthokeratology
This is a method of vision correction that involves wearing special contact lenses overnight to reshape the cornea, the clear front surface of the eye. There isn’t a need to wear glasses or contact lenses the next day with this option.
Studies have shown that orthokeratology can help to slow down the progression of myopia. This is a specialist service and products will be discussed individually
Ideal for: Children who play a lot of sport, in particular water sports. Or do not like daily lenses and/or are self conscious in glasses.
Specialist contact lenses
These are special contact lenses that have different prescriptions in different parts of the lens, allowing for clear vision at multiple distances.
Studies have shown that this type of contact lens can help to slow down the progression of myopia in children.
Ideal for: Children who are not fans of wearing glasses and don’t wear them as often as they should. These are daily disposable contact lenses and are designed to be worn all day to help reduce the progression of myopia.
Spectacle lenses
These are specialist lenses which use new technology within the lenses called islets that create an unnoticeable blur in the peripheral vision which helps to prevent further elongation of the eye.
This in turn helps to reduce or slow down the progression of myopia.
Ideal for: Young children and those who would prefer glasses over contact lenses.
We also have an amazing selection of frames to choose from here at Coton & Hamblin, so your child can choose a frame that they love and will want to wear to school every day
To find about more the above or to discuss myopia control for your child, get it touch with our Woolwich branch