• What is Myopia?
  Myopia is often called ‘short-sightedness’ and results in blurred long-distance vision. It’s thought to affect up to 1 in 3 people in the UK and is becoming more common.

• How do I know if my child is short-sighted?
  A child with Myopia can see clearly up close for example when reading a book, however, may experience blurred vision when looking at distance objects such as the blackboard and television. Signs that your child may be short-sighted include:
  • Needing to sit closer to the front to see the whiteboard at school
  • Sitting closer to the TV
  • Complaining about tired eyes or headaches
  • Regularly rubbing their eyes

• What causes myopia?
  Although it is not exactly clear why some people become short-sighted, there are several factors that can increase the chances of developing Myopia:
  • Genetics – if a child has one parent that is short-sighted, they are twice as likely to develop myopia. If a child has two short-sighted parents, then they are over five times as likely to develop myopia.
  • Prolonged time spent reading, playing computer games, using smart phones and tablets
  • Not spending enough time outdoors

• How is myopia diagnosed?
  Regular eye examinations every 2 years can diagnose Myopia. At OTGi our fully qualified optometrists conduct thorough eye screenings to detect Myopia. If you have any concerns about your child, please contact us to book a screening.

• Why is early onset of myopia particularly concerning?
  The younger the child when they first become short-sighted, the faster their vision deteriorates (without myopia control) and as a result the more severe it is in adulthood. This unfortunately results in patients being at a great risk of retinal detachments, cataracts, glaucoma and myopic maculopathy.

• How can I correct myopia?
  There are several options to correct myopia, the initial of these are glasses which will help your child see clearly but does not slow down the progression of myopia and your child may need a stronger prescription as they continue to grow.

• What are the treatments for controlling myopia?
  Specially designed soft daily disposable contact lenses have been shown to slow down the progression of myopia. At OTGi we are at the forefront of key research studies into myopia control contact lenses, please contact us if you would like your child to be involved or for more information about these contact lenses.

• My child does not currently wear contact lenses. Can they still take part in studies?
  Of course, they can! At the OTGi screening appointment one of our fully qualified optometrists will assess your child’s visual needs. If they are deemed suitable for a contact lens studies, we can fit and teach your child on the safe use and application of contact lenses.

• My child is at school, when can we come for visits?
  Our normal clinic hours are Monday – Friday, 9:00am – 5:30pm. However, we know that for some our studies with 10-16-year-olds, that does not always work with the school schedule, so we have more flexible working hours during these studies.