Modern lifestyles, especially increased digital screen time, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, have seen kids in Singapore spending more time indoors. This has resulted in more kids needing spectacles from a younger age and some needing to change their lenses more frequently, according to some eye care professionals interviewed in this Straits Times article.

Take Action to Slow Down Your Child’s Myopia

In Singapore, 80% of our children will have myopia by 18 years old and among these, 20% will have high myopia, defined as myopia of 500 degree or greater in each eye. This may lead to increased risks of sight-threatening eye conditions such as cataract, glaucoma, retinal detachment and myopic macular degeneration later in life. It is also recommended to get an eye care practitioner to perform an eye exam every six months to uncover eye problems early.

As parents, you can also play a part to help slow down your child’s myopia progression. Here are some suggestions.

#1 Ask for Myopia Management Lenses

Slowing down myopia progression is a separate issue from simply correcting myopia. Regular spectacles for short-sighted wearers – known as single-vision lens – can only correct blurred vision. They can’t prevent myopia from getting worse. In contrast, myopia management spectacle lens can help to send a slowdown signal to the eyes and act as a shield against eye elongation, which is the cause for worsening myopia.

Essilor® Stellest® Lenses have been clinically proven to slow down myopia progression by 67% on average compared to single vision lenses, when worn at least 12 hours a day^[1].

Using “H.A.L.T*” technology – Highly Aspherical Lenslet Target – Essilor® Stellest® Lenses are made up of a cutting-edge constellation of 1021 invisible** lenslets, , which creates a volume of signal in the child’s eye acting as a shield against eye elongation. They are comfortable and easy to adapt for children, with no compromises.

Learn more about Essilor® Stellest® Lenses here or find an Essilor Expert near you today here.

#2 Reduce Screen Time

A study conducted by the Singapore Eye Research Institute highlighted frequent near-work activities done with digital devices as a factor contributing to Singapore’s high myopia rate. Therefore, limit the time spent by your kids on such devices. Remember to take three- to five-minute breaks after every 30 minutes of near-work and ensure that your child is working in an area with adequate lighting to reduce eye strain.

#3 Spend more time outdoors 

A 2015 World Health Organisation report on myopia pointed out that when children spent more than two hours a day outdoors, their risk of myopia was reduced. Take daily walks around your neighbourhood with your children, or encourage them to take up a regular outdoor sport.

 

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[1] Compared to single vision lenses, when worn 12 hours a day. Two-year prospective, controlled, randomized, double-masked clinical trial results on 54 myopic children wearing Stellest® lenses compared to 50 myopic children wearing single vision lenses. Efficacy results based on 32 children who declared wearing Stellest® lenses at least 12 hours per day every day. Bao J. et al. (2021). Myopia control with spectacle lenses with aspherical lenslets: a 2-year randomized clinical trial. Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci.; 62(8):2888.

* Highly Aspherical Lenslet Target
** Aesthetic finish