These Contact Lenses May Help Slow Down Nearsightedness in Children

by Erica LoopNovember 24, 2019

Does your child have myopia? If they’re nearsighted, CooperVision may have a solution to slow down the progression of this all-too-common eye issue.

The vision company recently announced the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval of its MiSight 1 day contact lens. Unlike other lenses, this daily wear, single-use contact product is shown to slow the development of myopia when prescribed for children ages 8 through 12.

photo: Pexen Designs via Pexels

In a press statement, Daniel G. McBride, President of CooperVision, said, “We can’t overstate the importance and potential impact of this landmark decision on children’s vision, especially considering the rise in myopia’s severity and prevalence in the U.S. and worldwide.” McBride continued, “Eye care professionals who embrace this breakthrough approach will improve the quality of life and eye health for so many children.”

Michele Andrews, OD, Senior Director of North America Professional and Academic Affairs for CooperVision, added, “While there is growing acknowledgment and interest in stemming myopia’s progression, there needs to be more urgency to act earlier. We believe that MiSight 1 day will be a catalyst that helps ECPs move faster and gives rise to better ECP-parent conversations about the issue. It’s a privilege to be at the forefront of myopia management.”

The recent FDA approval follows a multi-year study of children ages 8 through 12 from Singapore, Canada, Portugal and the United Kingdom. The results, which were published in the journal Optometry and Vision Sciences, showed that the lenses slowed the progression by over 50 percent.

The contact lenses, which are already prescribed in Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia and Spain, will launch in the United States in March of 2020.

—Erica Loop

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Why Your Kids Need a Back-to-School Eye Exam (& 5 Questions to Ask Your Optometrist)

by Erin LemAugust 7, 2016

You never hesitate to call your pediatrician when your child’s sick or allow your mini-me to skip her nightly teeth brushing. After all, your kiddo’s well-being is your top priority. But, did you know that eye exams for children—starting at six-months-old—should be a part of their regular check-up routine? Read on for why you should make vision care a top priority, and five things to ask your optometrist at your next exam.

Why Check Their Vision If There Are No Problems?
If you don’t check their vision, how will you ever know anything is wrong? With one in four kids having an eye condition, yearly check ups are imperative to measure your kiddo’s eye health.

In fact, back-to-school season is a great reminder to get those eyes examined. With 80% of learning happening visually, you’ll want to make sure your kids are ready to tackle everything from reading faraway text in the classroom to participating in sports and extracurriculars safely.

5 Questions to Ask at Your Next Eye Exam
Booking that eye exam is the first step to ensuring your kid’s vision health. We spoke to Dr. Mary Anne Murphy, OD, owner and practitioner of Front Range Eye Association in Denver (she’s also a mom!) to ask her what parents should be aware of and asking at the appointment.

1. If my child requires corrective eyewear, what other options do we have, no or in the future, besides glasses? Is there anything I can do to prevent even greater loss of vision?

2. What are the effects of my child using technology? Should I limit use? Is one device worst or better than others?

3. I’m worried my child may be pretending to a have vision problem or that his/her responses to your questions may not be reliable because glasses are so trendy right now. How can you tell if my child really does has an issue that I need to be concerned about?

4. How important is wearing sunglasses from an early age?

5. Wouldn’t I, or my child’s teacher, know if they had a vision problem? Does a pediatrician visit or school screening accomplish the same thing as an eye exam?

If you need to find an optometrist and book your next appointment, head to VSP and find your doctor.

Does your child have vision problems? Have you taken him or her to an optometrist? Tell us about your child’s eye care in the comments below.

7 Surprising Stats You Should Read for Healthy Eyes

by Erin LemAugust 15, 2015

You’re whizzing through your back-to-school checklist like a pro. Before your kids officially head to the classroom, add one more thing to your to-do list: a yearly eye exam for your child. Just like pediatrician appointments, a regular eye exam should be a part of your family’s check-up routine, but unfortunately many parents miss this step even though they should start when kids are as young as six-months-old. Read on for seven surprising stats you might not know about eye health.

One in five parents do not take their kids to the eye doctor for the first time until their children are school age (at least five years old).
Less than 10% of parents know the recommended age for a child’s first eye exam is six months.
One in ten parents have never taken their kids to the eye doctor.
One-third of moms say they don’t take their kids to the eye doctor because they already get a school vision screening – even though 50% say an eye doctor exam is more comprehensive.
72% of moms & 45% of dads who do not bring their children to the eye doctor annual say they would be motivated to do so if their child complains of discomfort or changes in vision.
One in five moms say access to vision insurance is the biggest barrier to visiting the eye doctor; while one-third (30%) of moms say obtaining vision insurance would motivate them to schedule an appointment.
75% of parents take their children to the dentist and primary care doctor before school begins each year, but only 50% take their children to get a comprehensive eye exam.

Be part of the 50% of families taking their kiddos to get an eye exam. Find your eye doctor today! Click here to get started.

Have your kids visited the eye doctor? Tell us about their experience in the comments below.

ML Interest Tag: eye-health

These Contact Lenses May Help Slow Down Nearsightedness in Children

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