Myopia Control
What is short-sightedness (myopia)?
Do you find it hard to read road signs, recognise people in the distance or experience blurry vision when playing sport? These are all symptoms of myopia.
Myopia, also known as short-sightedness, affects your ability to see things in the distance clearly, while objects up close remain in focus.
The rate of myopia (short-sightedness) is increasing at an alarming rate worldwide, doubling in children over the course of just a single generation.
- It’s predicted that 50% of the world’s population will be myopic by 2050 (compared to 28% in 2010)
- In Australia, Myopia has doubled in 12-year-olds in just 6 years
- It is projected that by 2020, Myopia will affect about 36% of Australians
Short-sightedness occurs when the light coming into your eyes focuses in front of, instead of exactly on your retina.
Who is affected by myopia?
Research has highlighted that the average age for developing myopia is becoming lower.
Often, this condition is picked up in early childhood and becomes noticeable when kids start to squint when trying to see the whiteboard.
An eye test before your child starts school is the best way to catch any eye problems early, making sure they are set up for a great start to their learning career. Although myopia is a progressive condition, we now know that the earlier it is detected and managed, the more we can slow its progression and minimise the long terms risks to our children’s eye health.
Can short sightedness (myopia) be corrected?
Short-sightedness is very normal and easily corrected with prescription eyewear.
The great news for both adults and kids is that corrective eyewear comes in many forms to suit different needs and prescriptions, including a wide range of frames, contact lenses, prescription sunglasses and more. All of which will help bring your distance-vision into focus and allow you to live your life to the fullest.
These tips may also help minimise your child’s risk:
- Choose green time over screen time. It is recommended that children spend a minimum of 90 minutes a day outside (excluding school time) to help with reducing the risk of myopia.
- Be aware of the risk factors. If both parents are myopic, a child will have a six times higher risk of myopia development or progression.
- Book an eye test to assess your child’s risk. An eye test before your child starts school and every 2 years thereafter is the best way to assess your child’s risk and slow the progression of myopia development with the new technologies and information we have now about myopia.
Book an eye test today
The optometrists at Stephen Daly pride themselves on spending time with you and your child to provide a highly personal and thorough eye examination. So don’t hesitate and book your child in for an eye test today.