As a parent, you want to promote your children’s health and set them up for success—and that includes addressing vision issues early on and protecting their eyesight for life.

Kids love to play, read, learn, and discover the world. In fact, more than 80 per cent of their learning happens through vision. And let’s be honest: everyone only wants what is best for their child. So, if we told you that a common eye condition identified at a young age could be controlled with less impact on eyesight in the long run, wouldn’t you want to know more? Nearsightedness (or myopia, the medical term), means you can see objects that are up close well, but have difficulty viewing objects farther away, such as writing on a blackboard in school, for instance. That can impact not only your child’s vision, but their entire life.

Get your eyes on this

Credit : Essilor 

It’s no secret that more and more children are developing myopia at a very young age, which increases their risk of developing high myopia or other visual impairments as adults.  This disorder is affecting the lives of millions of children around the world. By 2050, it’s estimated that half of the world’s population will have myopia, and some people will have high myopia, which can cause eye diseases later in life that can threaten vision. The good news? Early management can help slow the progression of this disorder. Keeping your focus on the future starts with an early eye exam, because the earlier a child’s myopia is identified, the sooner it can be controlled, and the less impact it will have on their eyesight in the long run.

Can lenses actually slow a child’s myopia?

Credit : Essilor

Absolutely! Myopia can develop quickly in a child, but think about what can be done now: early management can help slow the progression of myopia and reduce the risk of complications in adulthood. After an eye exam, an eye care professional may recommend Stellest® lenses for children who are in the early stages of myopia, those who are already myopic, and those who are at risk of developing severe myopia.

Stellest® are a new generation of myopia-controlling lenses that make it possible to control the progression of myopia. A child should wear their Stellest® lenses as often as possible. In fact, the more often a child wears their lenses, the greater effect they will have in slowing down myopia. When worn 12 hours a day, these lenses can slow myopia progression by 67% on average, compared to single vision lenses. It’s important to schedule follow-up appointments to evaluate a child’s journey. To get kids excited, they’ll get a Stellest® passport to track their progress and prepare for optometrist visits, and parents can also access information and advice about the vision disorder.

What parents can do

Credit : Essilor

• Educate yourself: Know your own family history, as many ocular conditions can be passed down to your kids. Many parents aren’t familiar with the term myopia and are unaware of the risks if left untreated. In a recent survey, less than 30 per cent of Canadian parents were aware of and understood myopia, and less than 50 per cent of parents don’t identify their child’s need for corrective lenses until the child is already struggling. Yet, it is the most common refractive error among children and young adults that can cause a significant risk to sight if not corrected and treated. 

• Book an eye exam: Many parents have never taken their child to the eye doctor. Don’t wait until your child is struggling. It’s a good idea for children to be screened before they are five years old so issues can be detected early. 

• Invest in protective eyewear: Sunglasses offer UV protection for children’s eyes. Ensure that kids get protective eyewear for playing sports or games to prevent any serious eye injuries. 

• Encourage healthy eating: There isn’t anything wrong with an occasional fast-food meal, but kids’ growing bodies need the vitamins and nutrients from healthy whole foods like fruits and vegetables, which are necessary to maintain healthy eyes and vision. 

We recommend several appointments and visits with eye care professionals in order to monitor your child's myopia journey. When your child receives their Stellest lenses, they will be given their Stellest Passport. This will allow you to track the progress of your child's myopia, prepare for follow-up visits, and find information and advice about your child's myopia.