Myopia in children

An increasing number of cases of myopia are 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: if one out of two parents is myopic, the child is twice as likely to become myopic. 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 also interfere with a child’s development, schooling and key parts of their lifes.

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 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 authorized to 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 further progression of myopia.

In cases of severe myopia, Visilab can provide innovative lenses, such as the Essilor® Stellest® lenses, which correct the myopia and even slow down its further progression by an average of 67% compared to conventional single-vision lenses, if worn for 12 hours per day. The latest technologies on the market make it possible to reduce the excessive elongation of the eye and thus slow down the progression of myopia.

These lenses also reduce the risk of pathologies induced by severe myopia. They have been especially developed for children, are aesthetically pleasing and are easy to get used to. Thanks to their lightweight and impact-resistant polycarbonate material, they are ready for all your child's adventures.

They are now also available as sunglasses so that your child can enjoy the summer season in comfort and protection.

MiSight® soft daily contact lenses®, available in the majority of our stores**, are also an effective solution to correct your child’s vision and slow down the development of 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. They offer you customised care in close cooperation with your ophthalmologist. Call us to make an appointment in your store, and bring your 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 all stores, except the following: Visilab City West Chur, Flughafen Zürich, Herblinger Markt, Lancy Centre, Martigny, Montreux, Neuchâtel, Oerlikon, Panorama-Center, Renens, Romanel, Shopping Arena, Seedamm-Center, Sierre, Sihlcity, Sihlporte, Sion, Tägipark und Villars-sur-Glâne

***According to the conditions of the coverage.