Myopia in children

An increasing number of cases of myopia is being detected in young people. In 50 years, the proportion has literally doubled, and analyses show that by 2050, half of the world’s population is likely to be short-sighted!* That is why it is essential to pay attention to our children’s eyesight.
Myopia is often hereditary, but this rapid growth is also due to our lifestyles, and particularly to the increasing time spent indoors and in front of screens (TV, tablets, mobile phones, etc.). This disorder impairs distance vision, and it can interfere with a child’s development, schooling, and key parts of their lives.

Even if your child has difficulty seeing well at a distance, they will not necessarily complain.
However, there are certain tell-tale signs:

• Squinting to see objects at a distance.
• Covering or closing one eye when focusing on a specific point.
• Often suffering from tired eyes and rubbing them excessively.
• Often complaining of eye pain or headaches.
• Watching TV or the tablet very close up.
• Reading or writing with their nose virtually touching the page.
• Telling you that distant objects seem blurred.
• Blinking excessively.

Yet, nothing beats an annual visit to the ophthalmologist, who is the only person who can give your child an eye examination. This will enable you to take stock of their vision and to rapidly take appropriate measures if the myopia develops considerably within the space of a year. By acting at an early age, when your child’s eyes are still developing, it is actually possible to slow down the progression of myopia.

For cases of high myopia, Visilab proposes the innovative Essilor Stellest® lenses, which are specially designed for children. These lenses correct and slow down the progression of myopia by an average of 67% compared with conventional single vision lenses, when worn 12 hours a day. The latest technologies on the market make it possible to reduce the elongation of the eye and slow down the progression of myopia.
These lenses also reduce the risk of pathologies induced by severe myopia. They have the advantage of looking attractive and appearing no different from traditional glasses. Children easily get used to them.

MiSight® soft daily contact lenses®, available in some of our stores**, are also an effective solution to correct your child’s vision and slow down the progression of their myopia. They are an excellent alternative to optical glasses for active children, and they will help them to reach their full potential in all their activities, sporting or otherwise.
Our expert opticians will be happy to help you to find the most suitable solution for your child. Call us to make an appointment in your store, and bring a prescription with you to make sure we have all the information we need.

*Source: Global Prevalence of Myopia and High Myopia and Temporal Trends from 2000 through 2050. American Academy of Ophthalmology.
** MiSight contact lenses® are available in the following stores: Visilab Sion, Visilab Signy, Visilab Morges, Visilab Porrentruy, Visilab Planète Charmilles, Visilab La Chaux-de-Fonds, Visilab Les Cygnes, Visilab Fribourg, Visilab Meyrin Centre, Visilab Chavannes-de-Bogis, Visilab Karussell, Visilab St Jakob, Visilab Olten, Visilab Thun, Visilab Schaffhausen, Visilab Zug, Visilab Emmen, Visilab Crissier, Visilab Rue de Rive, Visilab Thônex, Visilab Balexert, Visilab Aigle, Visilab Yverdon, Visilab La Praille, Visilab Freie Strasse, Visilab St.Gallen, Visilab Zugerland, and Visilab Glattzentrum.