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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 <a href="https://www.straitstimes.com/life/myopia-rising-among-kids-here-as-screen-time-goes-up-during-the-pandemic">this Straits Times article</a>.
Take Action to Slow Down Your Child’s Myopia
In Singapore, <a href="https://www.moh.gov.sg/news-highlights/details/speech-by-dr-lam-pin-min-senior-minister-of-state-for-health-at-the-opening-of-the-singapore-national-eye-centre-s-myopia-centre-16-august-2019#:~:text=As%20such%2C%20Singapore%20is%20often,individuals%20may%20have%20high%20myopia." target="_blank" rel="noopener">80% of our children will have myopia by 18 years old</a> 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.
<h2>#1 Ask for Myopia Management Lenses</h2>
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&#8217;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<a href="#_ftn1" name="_ftnref1">[1]</a>.
Using &#8220;H.A.L.T*&#8221; technology &#8211; Highly Aspherical Lenslet Target &#8211; 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.<a href="#_ftn3" name="_ftnref3"></a>
Learn more about Essilor® Stellest® Lenses <a href="https://www.essilor.com.sg/products/stellest?utm_source=kiasu-parents&amp;utm_medium=other-channel-other-asset-format-reach-core-prospecting-stellest&amp;utm_campaign=stellest-stellest-article:-3-ways-to-slow-down-your-child’s-myopia-progression" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a> or find an Essilor Expert near you today <a href="https://www.essilor.com.sg/store-locator#/result?address=singapore&amp;currentPage=1&amp;lang=en-sg&amp;lat=1.352083&amp;long=103.819836&amp;miles=10&amp;unitOfMeasurement=KM&amp;filteredSearch=1&amp;Distance=30&amp;Filters=MYOPIA&amp;utm_source=kiasu-parents&amp;utm_medium=other-channel-other-asset-format-reach-core-prospecting-stellest&amp;utm_campaign=stellest-stellest-article:-3-ways-to-slow-down-your-child’s-myopia-progression" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.
<h2>#2 Reduce Screen Time</h2>
A <a href="https://www.snec.com.sg/research-innovation/research-groups-platforms/research-groups/myopia" target="_blank" rel="noopener">study</a> 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.
<h2>#3 Spend more time outdoors </h2>
A <a href="https://www.who.int/blindness/causes/MyopiaReportforWeb.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">2015 World Health Organisation report</a> 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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<h6><a href="#_ftnref1" name="_ftn1">[1]</a> 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.</h6>
<h6><a href="#_ftnref2" name="_ftn1"></a></h6>
<h6>* Highly Aspherical Lenslet Target 
** Aesthetic finish</h6>
<h6> </h6>
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3 Ways To Slow Down Your Child’s Myopia Progression

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There is a somewhat unconventional but increasingly popular method of treating myopia called Orthokeratology – or Ortho-K for short. It involves wearing specially designed contact lenses overnight, which temporarily reshapes the surface of the eye. Find out more about this ‘quiet achiever’ of myopia control.
WHEN, WHO, WHAT Orthokeratology has been employed since the early 1940s through to the 1960s in the United States. George Jessen, an Optometrist who was an early pioneer of the contact lens, is also credited with being one of the first to employ the concept of Orthokeratology in its earliest form.
By definition, Orthokeratology is the temporary reduction of myopia achieved by the programmed application of contact lenses to reshape the cornea. Modern orthokeratology uses specially designed reverse geometry gas permeable (GP) Ortho-K shaping lenses that are worn when the patient sleeps. Some myopic patients, after a night of wearing such lenses, enjoy near-perfect vision without glasses for the whole of the next day.
WHY YOU OUGHT TO CONSIDER ORTHO-K
Ortho-K lenses are able to correct myopia better than regular soft contact lenses and seldom trigger the allergies, dryness and irritation that are associated with several hours of wearing regular contact lenses. If used properly, Ortho-K contact lenses carry a lower risk of developing eye infections than conventional contact lenses.
Furthermore, Ortho-K lenses are on a par with atropine drops for controlling the axial length elongation of the eyeball and the stabilisation of myopia progression. Most importantly, Ortho-K lens users do not suffer from photophobia (light sensitivity) and a long list of other complications which are associated with atropine drops.
Compared to lenses with addition (PAL or Bifocals), Ortho-K lenses are considered the more effective and intensive method of myopia control as the lenses are centred on the eye instead of on the face. Perhaps the main advantage of Ortho-K lenses is that the treatment lenses are not affected by the movement and focusing of the spectacles on the face.
CANDIDATE? CAN! In general, children are the best candidates for Ortho-K lenses. Ideally, the child should be between six and 14 years old, with myopia between -1.00DS and -5.00DS. Other factors that an Optometrist will consider before prescribing Ortho-K lenses are whether the child plays sports, whether he or she dislikes wearing glasses, and how often the child’s pair of glasses needs to be changed. The motivation of both child and parent to wear the lenses and their commitment to lens care are also assessed.
WORKING WHILE SLEEPING
During sleep, Ortho-K contact lenses gently reshape the front surface of the cornea, which is soft and able to be subtly moulded. The lenses float on the eye tear film, yet provide enough pressure to reshape the cornea. When the lenses are removed in the morning, the change in the curvature of the corneal surface results in clear vision during waking hours, thus reducing the need for wearing contact lenses or glasses during the day.
The success rate of Ortho-K lenses is very high. Many Optometrists report 6/6 vision in over 90% of their patients, similar to Lasik surgery. Results, however, depend on the patient’s original prescription, treatment goals, compliance, motivation levels and how the patient’s individual eyes respond. A comprehensive exam conducted by an Optometrist who is conversant with Ortho-K will provide a better picture of the probability of success.
In the majority of cases, vision improvement starts after one night of wear. Some patients notice it within a few hours, and it is significant within two hours. Vision is normally good during all waking hours within the first week. Since children&#8217;s eyes are more easily moulded than adults’, results are generally faster and better in young patients than they are in adult ones. However, some individuals’ eyes do not respond to the original design as expected, in which case the Optometrist will need to change the design to achieve optimal results.
While Ortho-K does not result in permanent vision correction, it does slow down myopia progression, which significantly reduces the severity of the myopia when the child’s eye ceases to grow at around the age of 20. In the sensitive tween and teen years, it can also liberate your child from the stigma and inconvenience of wearing glasses.
FOCUS ON YOUR CHILD’S TREATMENT OPTIONS Clearly, Ortho-K is a treatment option worth considering. If you would like more information on this promising form of treatment, or wish to have your child assessed for his or her suitability, visit the Myopia Control Centre at W Optics, Suntec City. A team of Optometrists who specialise in childhood myopia are on hand to provide unbiased advice on treatment options and plans.
Visit <a href="https://www.essilor.com.sg/w-optics?utm_source=Kiasuparents&amp;utm_medium=advertorial&amp;utm_campaign=KidsMyopiaControl">https://www.essilor.com.sg/w-optics</a> to find out more about childhood myopia treatment options.
Disclaimer: Myopilux lenses and Orthokeratology may not be able to address individuals’ conditions due to natural deficiencies, illnesses, pre-existing medical conditions and/or advanced age of consumers. The information contained herein is general information and is not and not intended to constitute medical advice. Please consult an eye care professional at W Optics for more information prior to the use of Myopilux or Orthokeratology.

Waking Up to the Wonders of Ortho-K

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Myopia surfaces in young children and, if left untreated, rapidly worsens before stabilising of its own accord at around the age of twenty when the eye stops growing. Hence, the time to treat it effectively is now – or better still, immediately after diagnosis. Find out more about what can be done to tackle the growing problem of childhood myopia.
NO CURE, ONLY CONTROL There is no cure for myopia: fact. However, one of the best ways to prevent myopia or slow down its progression in your child is to ensure that he or she practises good eye care habits. This includes ensuring that near work is held further away from the eyes, and that your child takes frequent breaks to rest their eyes.
Outdoor activity should also be encouraged, since it is has been proven that spending 14 hours or more a week outdoors is significantly effective in reducing myopia progression. While we do not know exactly how playing outdoors works in controlling myopia progression, many studies are under way to test various theories. It is possible that extra Vitamin D production, which is catalysed by sunlight, plays a part. Exposure to bright light also releases chemicals in the retina such as dopamine, which can control growth. It is also thought that playing outdoors gives rise to visual opportunities for far distance vision.
One thing we do know for sure is that myopia is significantly more prevalent in Chinese children than in children of other races. This appears to be linked to the massive pressure on Asian children to succeed in school, which leads to many hours hunched over books indoors. It also supports the belief that outdoor activity reduces myopia progression – and that, conversely, too much close work indoors promotes it. As a parent, you can ease the pressure on your child to study relentlessly. Encourage them to have regular study breaks, during which they should simply go outside and play!
EFFECTIVE TREATMENT OPTIONS Most parents’ usual course of action when their child is diagnosed with myopia is to get spectacles. While spectacles fulfil the immediate need of correcting your child’s vision, most do not serve the longer-term purpose of slowing down the progression of your child’s myopia. In fact, wearing under-corrected spectacles can actually speed up the progression of myopia. Hence, it is of utmost importance to get your child’s eyes checked regularly.
The exception to the rule are Myopilux® lenses. Developed over 10 years by French ophthalmic lens manufacturer Essilor, Myopilux® lenses have been delivering very promising results around the world. In a 2-year study amongst 87 children aged between 7 and 13, it was found that Myopilux® lenses slowed down myopia progression by up to 62%.
Glasses fitted with Myopilux® lenses address the need to correct and manage myopia, by concurrently correcting far vision and reducing strain for near vision. They are superior to single vision lenses, which only correct far vision without reducing the strain on near vision. Wearers enjoy the smooth transition of vision from their distance to near vision without their vision being obstructed by the distinct line in bifocal lenses.
Another method of treatment that has been used for several years to treat myopia in adults and children is Orthokeratology, also known as Ortho-K. Orthokeratology requires the patient to wear specially designed contact lenses overnight. The lenses gently reshape the soft tissue of the cornea so that vision is improved upon waking, often eliminating the need to wear spectacles or contact lenses altogether. While vision improvement should start after a night of wear, some patients may notice it within a few hours.
Optometrists have noticed that their younger patients in particular have benefited greatly from Orthokeratology in terms of slowing down myopia progression. However, young patients need to practise good hygiene with Orthokeratology to avoid discomfort and possible infection.
CLARIFY YOUR OPTIONS Before committing to a treatment plan, it is important that your child is examined and evaluated by a qualified optometrist with specialised training in childhood myopia. Visit the Myopia Control Centre at W Optics for a deeper understanding of the treatment options available to your child today.
Give your child a brighter future. The window of opportunity to control the progression of childhood myopia is closing as you read… 
Visit <a href="https://www.essilor.com.sg/w-optics?utm_source=Kiasuparents&amp;utm_medium=advertorial&amp;utm_campaign=KidsMyopiaControl" target="_blank">https://www.essilor.com.sg/w-optics</a> to find out more about childhood myoia treatment options.
With thanks to Soh Wei Zhi, Education and Professional Services, Essilor Singapore
Disclaimer: Myopilux lenses and Orthokeratology may not be able to address individuals’ conditions due to natural deficiencies, illnesses, pre-existing medical conditions and/or advanced age of consumers. The information contained herein is general information and is not and not intended to constitute medical advice. Please consult an eye care professional at W Optics for more information prior to the use of Myopilux or Orthokeratology.
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