How could Diffusion Optics Technology™ be an ally in your kids’ development?

Myopia is quickly progressing everywhere in the world, to a point where studies have predicted that by 2050, nearly half of the world population will be myopic. While this statement might not seem alarming to most, it does signify that there could be more and more serious eye diseases in the years to come as a result of this new epidemic.

Children, in particular, should be monitored for signs of early myopia development. Unfortunately, research has shown that myopia typically arises during those formative years when kids’ eyes are still growing. And thankfully, while myopia cannot yet be cured, its progression could be slowed down with the help of our Diffusion Optics Technology™ lenses.

What is myopia, and why is it a concern for children?

The first step to understanding how to treat myopia is to understand its causes and consequences.

A definition of myopia:

Myopia, or nearsightedness, defines the type of vision that sees far-away objects and writing as blurry.

Researchers have found that this is the result of an elongated eye shape. Indeed, when the eyeball is too long, light entering the eye does not focus on the retina correctly, causing far-away objects to appear blurry.

Myopia could cause your children difficulties in reading a classroom’s board or distinguishing writing far away. It could impact learning, which is one of the reasons myopia should be identified early on.

What causes myopia:

For a very long time, myopia was believed to be purely the result of genetics. Therefore, if you were myopic, your children were also more likely to have myopia.

However, new studies have also linked myopia’s prevalence to a particular lifestyle of spending more time indoors carrying out intense near activities, for example, reading or in front of screens, rather than spending more time outside.

These indoor environments are characterized as high-contrast environments. Much like in photography, the colors we perceive indoors on books and screens are balanced through stark contrast of brightness and darkness. This is why they are high-contrast environments, contrary to the outdoors, which is typically a low-contrast environment.

Profs. Jay and Maureen Neitz have determined that these high-contrast environments could be responsible for overstimulating eye growth. This is called contrast theory and has linked contrast and our lifestyle to myopia progression.

Why does myopia need to be controlled in children:

So if your child’s lifestyle is linked to the prevalence of myopia, encouraging them to spend more time outdoors, put down the screens, and pursue a healthy lifestyle should be your top priority. Especially considering the severity of some issues that can arise from myopia progression in children.

Indeed, myopia is not just a minor inconvenience that causes your kids to need new glasses every couple of years. Myopia onset in young children has been proven to lead to higher occurrences of high myopia during adulthood, which could cause sight-threatening complications in adulthood.

Myopia is, therefore, an issue that must be rapidly identified, controlled, and managed to try to slow the progression. If you suspect your children of having myopia, if they complain of blurry vision, headaches, sore eyes, or if they squint, please consult the proper eye-care professional as soon as possible.

How can we control myopia with DOT lenses?

There is no cure yet for myopia entirely. However, new technologies are designed to help slow its progression and, therefore, significantly reduce the risk of myopia complications in the future.

Traditional methods of treating myopia:

If your child is myopic, several standard methods exist to treat this issue.

First and foremost, make sure that your children have a healthy lifestyle. We’ve seen the importance of spending time outdoors rather than indoors for the prevalence of myopia: encourage your kids to play outside and practice physical activities. The American Optometric Association also advises giving your children a healthy diet with nutrient-dense foods to help with their vision.

Myopia can also be treated professionally with the use of prescription lenses. Consult your eye-care professional to have your children fitted with the perfect correction for their vision.

Throughout childhood, your kid’s vision will develop rapidly, particularly for those with myopia, as it is progressive. So make sure to schedule regular eye examinations with your eye-care professional to ensure they always have the optimal correction for their vision.

A pioneer solution: Diffusion Optics Technology™ lenses

While myopia is progressive, new technology has been designed to slow its progression in children. Such is the case with Diffusion Optics Technology™ lenses.

With the help of tiny micro-dots in the glasses, Diffusion Optics Technology™ lenses scatter light to soften contrast on the retina. Therefore, Diffusion Optics Technology™ lenses are designed to slow down myopia progression by managing contrast.

A pioneering solution that has been clinically proven² with children aged 6-10 years old¹, available in selected markets.

Conclusion:

Myopia is far from just a minor inconvenience that will cause your children to wear eyeglasses for the rest of their lives. When detected during childhood, it can lead to more severe eyesight issues later in life, which is why it should be controlled and managed correctly.

Thankfully, Diffusion Optics Technology™ lenses are here: get in touch with our team to learn more about slowing down myopia.

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References:

¹& ². Joe Rappon, Carol Chung, Graeme Young, Christopher Hunt, Jay Neitz, Maureen Neitz, Thomas Chalberg: Control of myopia using diffusion optics spectacle lenses: 12-month results of a randomised controlled, efficacy and safety study (CYPRESS)