Myopia, also known as short-sightedness or near-sightedness, is a common eye condition in Belfast and throughout N.Ireland. If your child has myopia, it means they might have trouble seeing things that are far away. Think of it like looking at a distant sign or the whiteboard in school – it could appear blurry.

Don’t worry; there are ways to help your child see better! Glasses or contact lenses are often used to make things clear for them. Plus, there’s exciting research happening right now (e.g. the NICER study in UUC, Northern Ireland) to find ways to slow down or even prevent myopia, especially in kids.

You might be wondering, why all this fuss? Well, myopia is becoming more common, and if it’s not managed well, there’s a chance it could lead to serious eye problems as your child grows up. Conditions like glaucoma, retinal detachment, and macular degeneration could become a concern if myopia isn’t taken care of.

So, by learning about myopia and the ways to manage it, you’re taking an important step to safeguard your child’s eye health for the future.

If your child has myopia, they might talk about not being able to see things far away. They could also get headaches, feel like their eyes are tired, or even get tired easily. Sometimes, they might not complain about their eyes or headaches, but you might notice other things like them being a bit clumsy, having trouble concentrating, behaving differently, or falling behind in school or with things they usually learn at their age.

If you’re worried that your child might have myopia, the best thing to do is take them to an optician’s. Kids can have these tests at any age, even if they can’t read or talk yet.

The optometrist might use a chart with letters for older kids, but for younger kids, they might show pictures or shapes. They can also figure out if your child is more comfortable seeing things up close or far away by shining a light into their eyes – this is called retinoscopy. It’s a bit like magic because the optometrist can find out if your child needs glasses without them needing to say anything. This way, the optometrist can understand your child’s eyesight really well even if your child can’t give exact answers.

When kids are born, they usually start with being able to see things up close pretty well. This is because their eyes are super flexible and can focus easily. As they grow, their eyes grow too, and this usually sorts out any vision issues.

The goal is for their eyes to grow just right so that the light coming in focuses perfectly at the back of the eyes, on a part called the retina. This gives them clear vision. But with myopia, things don’t quite work that way. The light ends up focusing in front of the retina, making far-away things seem blurry.  In Northern Ireland, almost one in five teenagers now have myopia!

Guess what? Sometimes, if you have myopia, your kids might have it too. It’s like a family thing. If one parent has myopia, their kids are at least three times more likely to get it. And if both parents have it, their kids are more than seven times more likely to have it! Also, some groups of people, like those from Asia, East Asia, and African American backgrounds, tend to have myopia more often.

The place you grow up in can also make a difference! Studies have shown that kids in the countryside, for example in China, are less likely to get myopia compared to those in the cities. Lifestyle matters too. A study in Ireland found that things like being overweight, not moving around much, and using screens too much can play a part. But scientists say they need to study this more to be really sure.

Contact lenses and orthokeratology lenses are highly effective and safe options for managing myopia in children. These methods have a very low incidence of serious side effects, and the risk of complications can be significantly reduced by maintaining proper hand hygiene and following recommended cleaning routines for the lenses.

Switching from regular contact lenses to myopia management or orthokeratology lenses does not significantly increase the risk of eye infections. As with any contact lens use, extending wear time requires careful adherence to proper lens care to ensure your child’s eyes remain healthy and comfortable.

Wearing myopia management contact lenses during the day is as safe as wearing conventional contact lenses, with no additional risk. However, for children and young adults who wear lenses overnight, for extended hours, or transition from glasses to contact lenses, there may be a slightly increased risk of corneal infections. The good news is that this risk can be significantly reduced by teaching proper lens care and emphasising good hand hygiene.

With the right guidance, children can safely wear contact lenses. Success starts with a thorough contact lens fitting and detailed instructions on proper handling and care. Studies show that the risk of corneal issues in children is no higher than in adults and may even be lower in children aged 8 to 11 years.

For orthokeratology (overnight lenses) to be safe and effective, precise lens fitting, diligent lens care, regular follow-up appointments, and quick action if any concerns arise are essential. These measures ensure the best outcomes for your child’s vision and eye health.