Myopia (short-sightedness) is a growing problem in more ways than one! It is well known that it often starts in pre-teen or teenage children and can progress rapidly over several years as the child grows. Modern lifestyles, with increased near working and use of digital devices has been shown to make this problem likely and accelerate the progression… until now! The full story is below with answers to most of the questions we think you will have, but if your child is short-sighted already or showing the first signs of a problem, book an eye examination with our fully accredited team to know that you are getting them the best solution, not just for now but for the whole of their life.

 

The Technical Stuff and FAQs

Myopia, or short-sightedness, is a growing problem worldwide, with projections that by 2030 it will affect 2.7 billion people. Our changing lifestyle, with much more time spent on near activities and less time spent outdoors, has been shown to increase the risk of children and teenagers becoming myopic and becoming more myopic than their parents’ generation.

A higher degree of myopia isn’t just inconvenient in terms of having to wear stronger glasses, it is proven to carry higher risks of more serious eye problems such as retinal detachment and maculopathy in later life.

As a parent of a child who is showing signs of becoming short-sighted, what if you could take steps to slow down or even stop the progression of the condition as your child grows?

WELL NOW YOU CAN!

After years of research and clinical trials, we can now offer you a truly revolutionary lens design which has been shown to reduce the rate of progression in myopic children and teenagers by an average of about 60%! Hoya MiyoSmart lenses incorporate unique patented technology that reduces the stimulus to excessive growth of the eye wall, which is the cause of rapidly increasing myopia.

As one of the first optical practices in the country to be fully accredited to supply MiyoSmart lenses, we would be happy to explain this in more detail. Book an appointment for an eye examination where we can fully assess your child’s vision and explain the likely benefits.

FAQs

  • Why would my child need MiyoSmart lenses?
    If your child is between 6 and 18 years old and has already started to show signs of myopia (short-sightedness), wearing MiyoSmart lenses is likely to reduce the rate of progression, meaning that in adult life, they will be significantly less myopic and significantly less at risk of the more serious eye diseases associated with high myopia.
  • How does MiyoSmart work?
    MiyoSmart lenses incorporate a conventional clear central area which corrects the myopia, giving normal clear vision. The revolutionary part is the tiny segments in the peripheral area of the lens which focus the peripheral vision in a way that has been shown to reduce the stimulus to eye growth and elongation, which is the cause of increasing myopia between the ages of 6 and the early 20s.
  • Should my child be wearing MiyoSmart lenses as soon as they are found to be short-sighted?
    Absolutely! The sooner they start in the lenses, the more effective they are likely to be.
  • So do the lenses look different?
    No! The appearance is much like any other spectacle lens – the tiny segments in the periphery of the lens will be just detectable lenses are held obliquely to the light, but in normal wear won’t be seen.
  • Do the lenses require an adaptation period?
    For most wearers, their new lenses might feel slightly strange for a day or two, but many won’t notice any unusual effects at all. We do recommend avoiding playing sports in the lenses for the first two weeks and we like you to fill in a follow-up questionnaire after 2 weeks of use so that we can identify and rectify any minor issues.
  • Should the glasses be worn full-time?
    To get maximum benefit, we would recommend leaving the glasses on full-time, even for near vision activities where a short-sighted child might otherwise be able to manage without their glasses. This ensures that the effect of the unique peripheral lens design is having its effect at all times.
  • How often should my child have their eyes tested?
    When wearing MiyoSmart lenses, we recommend regular eye examinations every 6 months.
  • What are the costs?
    We make no additional charge for an examination for MiyoSmart lenses beyond the free NHS eye test that all under 16s are entitled to.
    A pair of MiyoSmart lenses, after allowing for the small NHS spectacle voucher contribution, costs £199. They can be fitted into almost any modern style of frame and the cost of your choice of frame is of course extra.