What are multifocal contact lenses?
Myopia or being short-sighted or near-sighted in children is very common, which results in distant objects appearing blurry. These days, children’s daily life is confined more to watching electronic devices, and mobile screens at a near distance instead of playing outside. As a result, more children are affected by myopia at an early age. And, if children’s eye care and myopia management is not addressed at the right time by good eye care professionals, myopia often worsens as the child gets older and the chances of having severe eye diseases such as cataracts, glaucoma, and retinal detachment will increase.
Myopia Management
Myopia management is a treatment program prescribed by the Optometrist to slow down myopia progression. By undertaking myopia management, it will reduce the risk of developing serious eye conditions later in life. While myopia cannot be reversed, the objective of myopia treatment is to keep it from getting worse. There are mainly four universally accepted myopia-controlling treatments among children –
- Orthokeratology (Ortho-K or CRT)
- Atropine eye drops
- Distance-Center multifocal soft contact lenses
- Myopia control spectacle lenses
Orthokeratology
Orthokeratology, also known as Ortho-K or CRT is a semi hard contact lenses that a child wears to sleep at night to correct their vision. The lens flattens the cornea by gentle pressure exerted on it, or the surface of the eye overnight resulting in the temporary “molding” of the outer layers, providing “lens-like” effects for the user. The next day, light passing through the reshaped cornea falls exactly on the retina, bringing distant images to appear clearer. Studies have shown that Ortho-K lenses are able to slow down myopia progression by 59%.
Atropine eye drops
Ophthalmologist often prescribe it to children between 5 to 18 years in small amounts placed in the eye each night at bedtime for 2 to 3 years. It helps to relax the eye muscle and control the eye accommodation in order to slow down myopia progression.
Center-distance multifocal contact lenses
This “multifocal” contact lens has various areas of focus, worn by children 6-12 years of age with myopia. An optical “trick” in the center of the lens has been confirmed in several studies to slow down the progression of myopia. The center of the lens, or “bull’s-eye”, helps to correct the blurry distance vision, while the outside portions of the lens blur the child’s peripheral (side) vision.
Center-distance multifocal contact lenses (MFCLs) are being prescribed for myopia control and are hypothesized to slow progression by providing clear foveal vision while simultaneously imposing myopic retinal defocus.
Myopia control spectacle lens
On average, a child’s eye power progresses from -0.75 to -1.00 diopter per year. A normal single vision lens will help them to see clearly. However, with myopia control lens, it helps the child to see clearly and also control myopia progression at the same time by about 35% to 59% depending on the myopia lens design. There are a total of 4 types of lens design; bifocal lenses, progressive myopia lens design, peripheral defocus lens design and also the defocus incorporated multiple segments (D.I.M.S.) technology.
Vision Space Optometrists, renowned eye care professionals for Myopic eye exams in Malaysia provide the best children’s eye care service by a group of trusted, passionate, and learned optometrists using their experience and latest eye care equipment to fight myopia in children. Through the Myopia management program, a specialist from Vision Space Optometrist will decide which methods are best suited for your child based on prescription and lifestyle. They will also oversee your children’s vision change over time to minimize myopic “creep” and keep your eyes healthy for life.
At Vision Space, we want to be known to be providers of great service to our customers. We will go the extra mile to serve you for many, many, many years! We promise you to provide the best eye care possible by our team of trusted and passionate optometrists using the latest eye care equipment to keep your eyes healthy forever. Also, we constantly seek and source internationally for several types of eyewear that look great on you, are super comfortable, and enhance your personality. Kindly visit our official website to get the best eye care and the best eyewear as per your choices and preferences- http://www.visionspace.com.my/.