Myopia Management

“Short-sight” is a colloquial name

for the medical term “Myopia”,

which is a disease. If your child has

‘short-sight’, a minus number in their

prescription (e.g. -3D) then they have

‘myopia’.

The more myopia your child has (i.e., the

more ‘short-sighted’ they are) the greater

their risk of detached retinas, glaucoma

and early cataracts later in life.

Good News!

If you start early, myopia

can now be stabilised with myopia

control glasses, day lenses or night

lenses plus lifestyle changes such as

more time outdoors and adapted screen

time. This can decrease their risks of

Pop in for a MyopiaChat and meet our

developing eye diseases in later life

by

opticians. We can discuss your child’s

up to 40%.

risks and advise on how to prevent

Myopia usually develops in childhood,

myopia progression.

caused by the eyeball growing too long,

To find out more contact us on the email,

meaning light cannot focus properly on

info@elliottandheath.com

or visit

back of the eye. This results in distance

www.myopiachat.org

vision being blurry and, the higher the

prescription, the worse the vision.

Myopia management

is an intervention

that can slow the progression of myopia

Elliott & Heath Opticians

reducing risks of sight threatening

79 Newbold Road

eye diseases in the future along with

Chesterfield

reducing the final prescription once a

S41 7QA

child's eyesight stabilises in adulthood.

T: 01246 275 847

At Elliott & Heath Opticians we

specialise in myopia management.

E: info@elliottandheath.com

Page 22


“Short-sight” is a colloquial name

for the medical term “Myopia”,

which is a disease. If your child has

‘short-sight’, a minus number in their

prescription (e.g. -3D) then they have

‘myopia’.

The more myopia your child has (i.e., the

more ‘short-sighted’ they are) the greater

their risk of detached retinas, glaucoma

and early cataracts later in life.

Good News!

If you start early, myopia

can now be stabilised with myopia

control glasses, day lenses or night

lenses plus lifestyle changes such as

more time outdoors and adapted screen

time. This can decrease their risks of

Pop in for a MyopiaChat and meet our

developing eye diseases in later life

by

opticians. We can discuss your child’s

up to 40%.

risks and advise on how to prevent

Myopia usually develops in childhood,

myopia progression.

caused by the eyeball growing too long,

To find out more contact us on the email,

meaning light cannot focus properly on

info@elliottandheath.com

or visit

back of the eye. This results in distance

www.myopiachat.org

vision being blurry and, the higher the

prescription, the worse the vision.

Myopia management

is an intervention

that can slow the progression of myopia

Elliott & Heath Opticians

reducing risks of sight threatening

79 Newbold Road

eye diseases in the future along with

Chesterfield

reducing the final prescription once a

S41 7QA

child's eyesight stabilises in adulthood.

T: 01246 275 847

At Elliott & Heath Opticians we

specialise in myopia management.

E: info@elliottandheath.com

Page 22



What is Myopia?

Myopia usually develops in childhood because the eyeball grows too long meaning light can't focus properly at the back of the eye.  It causes blurry distance vision and the higher the prescription the worse the vision. If your child has ‘short-sight’, a minus number in their prescription (e.g. -3D) then they have ‘myopia’.  The younger the myopia starts the higher the risk of progression and that they will develop high myopia which is classed as over -6.00 dioptres.  

Because the eyeball grows longer this stretches all the structures within the eye increasing the risks of eye diseases later in life including glaucoma, detached retinas and early cataracts.  The longer the eyeball the higher the risks.   

Measuring myopia progression using axial eye length | My Kids Vision 

What Causes Myopia?

Since the 1960's there has been a significant increase in myopia believed to be due to lifestyle changes of increased close work such as computer screens and mobile phones. Looking up close for prolonged periods of time stimulates accommodation which in turn stimulates the eye to grow longer. 

Research between Singapore where over 70% of college graduates are myopic and Australia where nearer 10% of teenagers are myopic, compared outdoor time.  Children in Australia were spending approximately 4-5 hours outdoors whereas children in Singapore were nearer 30 minutes outdoors per day.  As a result it is thought outdoor play is vital in preventing myopia. 

The World Health Organisation has estimated if myopia continues to grow at the current rate it is likely the world will be 50% myopic by 2050. 

Patterns of Daily Outdoor Light Exposure in Australian and Singaporean Children - PMC (nih.gov) 

How Can I Slow Myopia Progression

What is Myopia Management?

Myopia Management is a programme where your optician aims to manage myopia progression in childhood through to early adulthood when progression is most likely.  

Myopia Management starts with a full eye examination where your Optometrist will assess your or your child's risk of myopia and measure the axial length of the eye.  Depending on the risks your optician may simply advise lifestyle changes such as more outdoor time and less screen time or offer products such as special spectacle and contact lenses that can slow progression.  

What are the costs?

Sadly the nhs does not fund myopia management though they do recognise myopia is an increasing problem and do mention myopia mangement interventions on their website.  

At Elliott & Heath we want to make myopia management accessible to everyone so our monthly plans start from just £20 per month including myopia management spectacles, advanced eye examinations and accidental spectacle damage cover (Terms & Conditions Apply).