Myopia (short-sightedness) occurs when rays of light are brought to a focus in front of the retina because the optical power of the eye is too great, or the eye is too long. Between the ages of seven and 11 years, six percent of the population has 0.5 dioptres (the unit used to measure short-sightedness) or more of myopia. The big jump in myopia comes between ages 12 and 13 with an increase of 25 percent in young people who have a 0.5 dioptres.

Normal Eye

Myopic Eye

The latest research finally proves that contact lenses can slow down the progression of Myopia and, in some cases, halt it altogether. Do not let fear and prejudice deter the fitting of contact lenses to children. They often make the most successful patients. Rigid lenses are the most effective in retarding the onset and progression of myopia.

A research study carried out at the University of Houston Contact Lens Institute fitted myopic children aged eight to thirteen with Rigid Gas Permeable or hard contact lenses. The average increase in myopia over three years was one-third the rate of progression of those myopic children wearing spectacles. The Houston study found that not only do hard lenses successfully slow down the process of myopia, the benefit persisted when the contact lens wear was resumed after being discontinued for a few months.

The way in which rigid lenses stabilise myopia is thought to be either by flattening the growing cornea, or by restraining axial elongation of the eye. (i.e. in both cases, preserving the correct eye shape)