What is Myopia?
Myopia, or short sightedness, is becoming more common. It usually begins in the early teens and typically gets progressively worse until around the age of eighteen. Short sightedness means that you need to wear distance glasses or contact lenses to see clearly, but that’s not all; people with short sightedness are more likely to develop eye problems like retinal detachments and glaucoma later in life. In some cases, these problems can cause reduced vision or even loss of sight.
What are MiSight lenses?
MiSight are daily disposable contact lenses for children who are short sighted (myopic). But that’s not all – they have been shown to slow down the worsening of myopia, hopefully reducing the risk of eye health problems later in life.
Will my child have to wear them every day?
MiSight lenses must be worn for at least six days every week for at least ten hours per day.
Who can use them?
Children from the age of eight have been successfully fitted with MiSight.
MiSight lenses can correct myopia from -0.50DS to -7.00DS. Unfortunately, they cannot correct astigmatism at this time.
If MiSight lenses are not suitable for your child, there are other Myopia Management options available. You can get Myopia Management spectacle lenses or orthokeratology contact lenses at Davies and Jones Optometrists too! Ask your optometrist for more information.
How can I have my child fitted for MiSight lenses?
- Book your child in for an appointment. During the sight test, you can speak to your optometrist about whether MiSight lenses are right for your child.
- If you decide to go ahead with MiSight lenses, your optometrist will order some lenses for you to try. You will attend a session where we teach your child how to safely use the lenses.
- Attend a fit appointment. During this check, your optometrist will check that the lenses fit your child appropriately and ensure the level of vision is excellent.
- After the fit appointment, you can take the lenses home to try. After your child has worn the lenses for three days, you will receive a call to check how your child is getting on with the lenses.
- There will be a followup check one week after your child begins wearing the lenses, to ensure that the fit and vision is still excellent.
- A further followup will take place one month after lens wear has begun.
- Your child will then attend six monthly checks to ensure the vision and the fit remain appropriate.
Is there a risk?
All contact lens wear has a potential risk of eye infection which, in rare cases, can cause vision loss. However, if you follow guidance on hygiene and caring for your lenses, the chances of problems from your contact lenses is small.
We recommend contacting us immediately if you have any: pain or discomfort, red eye(s), changes to your vision or anything else unusual.
What are the results of MiSight in the long term?
All forms of Myopia Management are still very new. Because of this, there is little evidence on how long-lasting the effects of the treatment will be, although the results of the clinical studies is promising. Further research is currently investigating this further.
Myopia Management does not cure short sightedness. Its aim is to slow down the worsening of myopia, hopefully reducing the risk of eye health problems in later life.
Other questions
If you have any questions that weren’t covered here, please give us a call or pop in to practice where our team will be happy to help.
For further details on MiSight contact lenses, please visit the Coopervision website.