Trying to slow down how quickly myopia (short-sightedness) gets worse is called myopia management, or myopia control. A number of treatments have been developed for this, including specially designed contact lenses and glasses, and are increasingly available in the UK. Current evidence suggests that using special contact lenses or glasses may reduce the progression of the level of myopia by 40% to 60%. This reduction is usually seen over one to three years, but most of this effect happens early on during treatment.
If myopia management is successful, this may mean your child grows up with a lower level of myopia than they would have had without treatment. This means that they may not depend on their glasses as much as they would otherwise have had to, and the prescription for their glasses will be lower, so their glasses will be thinner and lighter. Lower levels of myopia also means they are more likely to have successful outcome following any future laser surgery to correct myopia. Being less myopic may mean your child is slightly less likely to be affected by conditions such as retinal detachment and myopic retinal degeneration in the future. However, it is not possible to remove the risk completely.
Although a lot of research has already taken place, it will take many more years before we fully understand how successful myopia management can be.
There is currently no direct evidence that myopia management reduces the risk of developing future myopia-related eye conditions. Also, there is limited evidence about the long-term results of myopia-management. This includes whether myopia will start to get worse again after the treatment has stopped.
Myopia management may reduce the risk of your child developing myopia-related eye conditions and sight loss in adulthood, but it will not take away this risk altogether. The evidence does not currently tell us whether the benefits of myopia management outweigh the disadvantages of treatment. Despite this, children with myopia who are being considered for standard contact lenses should also be considered for myopia-management contact lenses.
There are two main treatments to try to reduce the progression of myopia:
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Evidence for myopia management
While myopia management does slow myopia progression, the evidence does not currently tell us whether the long-term benefits outweigh the costs and risks. If you want to find out more about a specific myopia treatment, ask your child’s optometrist for more information.
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These are specially designed glasses. They look the same as standard glasses but change the focus in the peripheral vision. Your child would wear these in a similar way to standard glasses.
There are two types of contact lenses which may be used to manage myopia:
Your child will be prescribed standard glasses or contact lenses if they are diagnosed with myopia. These glasses or contact lenses will improve how well your child can see, but will not slow myopia progression. As the evidence does not currently tell us whether the long-term benefits of myopia management outweigh the costs, side effects and risks, you might choose to continue to use standard glasses or contact lenses until there is more evidence about how well myopia management may work.
Wearing myopia management glasses does not have any more risks than wearing standard glasses.
The risks of wearing contact lenses to manage myopia are similar to the risks of wearing standard contact lenses. Some people experience mild discomfort and occasional blurred vision. With all types of contact lenses there is also a low risk of serious complications, such as corneal infections, that may result in sight loss. There is a higher risk of complications associated with wearing contact lenses overnight. If your child wears any contact lenses, it is important that they follow the optometrist’s advice about hygiene and caring for the lenses to prevent complications. It is also important, that they have regular contact lens check-ups. Children can be as good as adults at using contact lenses.
Advantages
Disadvantages
It is very likely that your child will still need to wear glasses or contact lenses even if the treatment to manage their myopia has been successful. However, they should have a lower level of myopia than they may have had without myopia management.
Your child’s optometrist may use a calculator to help predict an expected level of myopia and so assess the reduction in the progression of myopia. However, it is not possible to know for certain how much the progression of your child’s myopia has been reduced and how successful their treatment has been.
Your child may not respond to myopia management treatment as expected. They may need to change to a different treatment, or try a combination of treatment if the first choice is unsuccessful.
There is limited evidence from research to provide clear guidance on when and how to end the treatment. Health professionals currently believe that children should stop using myopia management in their late teens or when the level of myopia stabilises. Your child may need to continue to have treatment, or they may need to restart their treatment if their myopia starts to get worse again after their treatment has stopped.
There is limited evidence about the long-term results of myopia management. Myopia management may slightly reduce the risk of your child losing their sight as a result of high myopia in later life (when they are an adult), but it is very likely that there will still be some risk of myopia-related sight loss. It is not possible to remove the risk completely.
An active lifestyle, particularly involving spending time outdoors, does appear to be helpful in preventing or delaying myopia in children at risk of developing myopia.
The length of time your child spends looking at a screen (like a tablet or phone), watching TV or reading may be linked to myopia development or progression. This relationship is not well understood but spending time on these activities might mean your child will spend less time outdoors, which we know can help prevent myopia.
Your child will still be prescribed traditional glasses or contact lenses if they are diagnosed with myopia. These will improve how well your child can see, but will not slow myopia progression. Your child may be at a slightly higher risk of being affected by conditions that can lead to sight loss compared to people with normal vision. However, these conditions can be treated and the risk of developing them in the general population remains relatively low.
For more information, please talk to your local optometrist.
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