Children's Eyecare

When Anna and Chloe came to the practice in 2019, Anna was already short-sighted, using standard glasses to correct her vision. She had tried wearing soft contact lenses but found them tricky to handle, so her myopia was progressing as would be expected when the condition is left. Her sister, Chloe, showed initial signs of myopia and with a family history of high levels of myopia, we advised their parents that myopia management could reduce the risk of the imminent progression.  Why was this a problem?  A higher prescription is not only an inconvenience causing poorer vision without glasses or contact lenses but all myopia, and especially higher prescriptions, is linked to an increased risk of developing eye diseases such as glaucoma, retinal detachment, myopic macular degeneration and cataract in later life. Each dioptre increase in myopia results in 67% increased risk of myopic macular degeneration. Myopia management aims to slow down the progression of myopia (short-sightedness) in children and young adults through lifestyle changes, the use of specialised contact lenses and specially designed spectacle lenses. It is unlikely that myopia management will stop the progression of myopia completely. Specialised lenses Anna tried myopia management soft contact lenses, but found putting them in too difficult. So when myopia management spectacle lenses were introduced in 2021 we suggested them to her. Chloe started to become myopic around the same time, so both girls were dispensed myopia management spectacle lenses. Whilst the glasses look exactly as they would with standard lenses, these lenses slow the progression of myopia by up to 60%. The statistics on the glasses lenses were strong, so we were keen to see the results for ourselves with our own patients.  So far, so good  Now with almost two years worth of data under our belts, we see that their myopic progression has slowed dramatically. They're actually going down the centiles when we measure axial length (length of the eye) which shows the glasses are working very well. Left untreated, the expectation is that every year a child’s short-sightedness will get worse. If they first showed signs of myopia when they were 10, we might expect it to deteriorate by half to one diopter each year, which means by the time they reach adulthood, they could have a prescription of -4 to -8, medium to high levels.  Unsurprisingly, the family is delighted. With a parent with a high prescription, having the ability to reduce the rate of myopia in future generations is something they could never have imagined would be possible. For those of us who grew up in the 80’s and 90’s, there was no option but to let levels of myopia progress naturally. Now there is an option to halt that trend. Many, understandably, don’t know about the numerous options available now, including soft lenses, overnight lenses, and spectacle lenses. For further information, please visit our website cameronoptom.com/myopia and if you would like to explore this further, please book an appointment with one of our optometrists by calling 0131 225 2235.

Eyesight is not often given a lot of space in parenting manuals and, unless there is something really obviously wrong, a lot of issues may understandably go unnoticed. We have written a guide on the stages of eye development, most importantly what to look out for and when to visit an optometrist. The practice provides the most comprehensive eye examinations completely free of charge for all children from birth. As with every stage of development, children reach milestones at different ages and this is only a guide. Newborn to 12 months Newborns are only able to differentiate between light and dark, but by the time they are around a month old large shapes and bright colours begin to attract their attention, often more so than faces. At around three months, they will start to focus and follow objects and you should notice their eyes starting to work together. From six months, they will start to learn depth perception, how far an object is away from them, and they will use this newfound skill to pull themselves up on objects. ! Watch out for significant delays in tracking or locating objects, as well as eyes not working together. Pupils appearing white is also a warning sign of a serious condition so shouldn’t be ignored. Toddler and pre-school years This is when children should be developing their fine motor skills – being able to play with age-appropriate toys like stacking toys and simple puzzles. They may also be able to recognise pictures and begin to identify shapes and colours.  ! Watch out for any issues controlling movements e.g. hands and fingers. All children should have their eyes examined by an optometrist from their pre-school year, however little ones can go to the optometrist from birth if you have any concerns. Pre-school and early primary years This stage is about continuing to successfully feed information to the brain, which might include starting to read, following words across the page. It is also when depth perception is further developed, which is evident when playing catch for instance, as well as being able to navigate around objects such as furniture when running around.  ! Watch out for any signs of misaligned eyes (cross eyes, a squint or a ‘lazy’ eye) as this needs to be rectified while the eyes are still developing. Middle primary school This is when issues with reading may become apparent and in some instances your optometrist may be able to help. If your child is a reluctant reader, finds reading uncomfortable and/or struggles to follow text, they may well benefit from seeing a vision therapist to help them better connect the brain and the eyes. Many children start life longsighted, and possibly with slight astigmatism. Most grow out of this with their eyes settling around seven or eight years old. Glasses may be prescribed to manage and hopefully reverse any issues.  ! Watch out for any issues learning at school that might be a sign there are issues with their vision e.g. reading, writing and recognising numbers. Nine years+ The most common eye issues at this age are long and shortsightedness. Longsight (hyperopia): In some cases your child’s vision won’t improve and they will continue to wear glasses to correct their longsight. Children of this age manage well with contact lenses so these would be worth exploring if they are reluctant to wear glasses, or play sports which makes wearing glasses difficult.  Shortsight (myopia):This is more of a concern as it needs to be managed in a specific way. If children are prescribed with standard glasses, their shortsightedness will often decline, meaning when they reach adulthood their eyesight is poor and the chance of them developing serious eye conditions increases significantly. Specialist contact lenses and glasses lenses slow the progression to make every effort to ensure this doesn’t happen, this is called Myopia Management – you can find out more about it at cameronoptom.com/myopia.  ! Watch out for a change in your child’s vision, perhaps sitting closer to the TV, struggling to read the board at school, complaining of headaches, screwing up their eyes to see something. If you have any concerns about your child’s vision, or they are due their annual eye examination, please book them in.  Call us on 0131 225 2235

Next up in our series of posts focusing on the technology we use is the practice is the Cerium Intuitive Colorimeter ‘Curve', the very latest in colorimetry technology. Often when children are reluctant readers, it is that they find reading physically uncomfortable. Tinted lenses can immediately help make reading easier and less stressful, by removing this discomfort. Adults have also been shown to benefit from tinted lenses. Using the Cerium Curve, a precision tinted lens can be individually designed using sophisticated computer screening and then glazed into your chosen frame. An examination with the Intuitive Colorimeter lasts about 20 minutes and enables the effects of hue, saturation and brightness to be explored before creating the perfect lens. A coloured lens may, in some cases, help alleviate some of the following conditions: – Movement of printed text – Blurring of print – Letters changing in size or shape – Patterns in the print (sometimes described as rivers or worms) – Halos of colour surrounding letters or words – Tiring easily whilst reading – Headaches or visual discomfort These symptoms can also be a sign of other visual issues so if you or your child experiences any of these symptoms, please book in with an optometrist in the first instance. We may then recommend an appointment with our behavioural optometrist, or recommend we explore whether a coloured lens may help. Find out more about Visual Stress here or email us on vision@cameronoptom.com.

We love technology! We think, used in the right hands, it can be of huge benefit to our patients, often with a life-changing result. Some of our patients are very curious about our pre-screening tests, others less so. Either way, we thought we'd run a series of posts about our ‘kit' so you can understand the benefits of the tests we perform. First up, our latest piece of technology, the MYAH. The MYAH, is a machine which measures the length of the eye, allowing us to better manage children with myopia (short-sightedness). At each eye exam, a child will have measurements taken, whether they have issues with their vision or not. These measurements will be repeated annually (or more frequently if the child is already short-sighted). Any changes in the measurement will allow us to immediately identify whether short-sighteness is present, and importantly whether it is progressing and if so how quickly. This will allow us to suggest an informed treatment plan to parents should their be an opportunity to slow the progression of short-sightedness through myopia management. In addition, MYAH allows us to build a comprehensive picture for those with dry eye, using a number of assessment tools, again to ensure the most appropriate treatment plan. So yes, we are absolutely thrilled to add this technology to our suite. Feel free to ask about the tests we perform, we are always delighted to chat about our technology. Find out more about myopia management here, or ask for an information booklet when you're next in the practice.

In Scotland, we are fortunate that all children receive Pre-School Orthoptic Vision Screening (POVS) the year before starting school. These are helpful tests promoting early detection of vision problems in children, including a sight test (a test of how well your child can see), as well as identifying issues like a squint or a lazy eye.  They provide a great indicator of whether your child has an issue, however a full eye examination is also recommended, especially where there is a family history of eye problems or strong prescriptions. In an eye examination, full pre-screening will take place, including scans, measuring the eyeball (helpful for diagnosing short-sight as a child grows), measuring for astigmatism, measurement of any prescription, measuring how the eyes see together, colour vision test, as well as discussing any concerns, medical history and family history of eye conditions.  We recommend a child has both the POVS test, as well as visiting an optometrist before starting school. Children’s eye examinations are free of charge, including scans and other tests which may be required. We don’t use eye drops as a matter of course and generally children find the experience a lot of fun in a very relaxed setting.  If you have any concerns about your child’s vision or would like to find out more about eye examinations, please call us on 0131 225 2235. Find out more about our eye examination here.

Many children welcome the news that they need to wear glasses. A cool new accessory or something to make them look grown up. However a small number are devastated by the news. It was quite an eye opener last week to hear a mum say her son went home in tears at the news that they needed glasses. Why? Because he knew when he made it into school in his new frames – even the stylish Nike frames he picked- that a string of name-calling would follow. How sad.  This particular child is short-sighted, meaning wearing special myopia management glasses will slow the deterioration of their vision and reduce the chance of him developing serious eye conditions in later life. He needs to wear them. They are a medical device. Thankfully for this particular child, contact lenses are also an option so it may be we go down that route, but it just highlights the impact that that age-old ‘speccy four-eyes’ comment can have on a child’s future eye health. So, we end with a small plea to grownups, please help us educate children that glasses are a necessity for many and should not be a source of ridicule. After all, it’s cool to be kind.  Please let us know if your child is struggling to adapt to their new glasses, for whatever reason. We will do our very best to assist. And if you'd like to chat about options for contact lenses, just drop us an email vision@cameronoptom.com or give us a call 0131 225 2235.

At Cameron Optometry, we have a huge range of patients who walk through our doors every day. From babies who have had cataract surgery and require specialist contact lenses, to people with rare, complex eye conditions. We also treat people with a range of conditions that may not directly affect their vision, but that still require our specialist care. This is why our staff have received specific training to assist those who may not find a trip to the optometrist as straightforward as others. This includes those with all kinds of additional support needs, learning disabilities, anxiety and with other unique requirements.   For many, a trip to the optometrist is nothing more than routine, sometimes even a welcome break from their working day; a chance to check all is ok with their vision and eye health, walking away from the practice having been given the reassurance they sought. For others, attending an optometry appointment can be seen as a huge hurdle, a challenging event, which may come with some level of anxiety and concern. If this is you, your child or someone you care for – please know, we are here to help. We have outlined some of the ways we look to alleviate some of the stress that you may associate with a visit to the optometrist.     Before the appointment  Familiar surroundings: You are very welcome to pop in ahead of your appointment to take a look around and familiarise yourself with our practice. We can take you through what will happen at your appointment to hopefully reduce any anxiety on the day of your appointment. If you can’t make it in, or would rather do this from home, you can also watch this video, which takes a child and her mother, through the steps of a standard eye examination, again allowing you to familiarise yourself with the surroundings. This was filed before the pandemic, so this video on our new hygiene measures may also be helpful.  Timing: We always make every effort to ensure we run on time, and will make a concerted effort should we know our patient may become anxious if we run even a minute or two late. You may benefit from booking an appointment first thing in the day to ensure you know you will be seen on time, and this is often a time when the practice is quieter.  During your appointment  On arrival: We have several waiting areas in the practice, so you can advise us where you would like to wait, for instance, you may prefer a quieter waiting area, rather than a thoroughfare. You are very welcome to bring someone into the appointment with you. All our examination rooms are spacious with additional seating.   Time: What we provide in abundance is time. Our standard appointments are longer than most, but we are happy to add additional time on should you require it. You will not be rushed at any stage during your visit. If you would like a longer than standard appointment time, please let us know when booking your appointment.   Our examinations: All our pre-screening and optometry staff are very experienced in supporting patients who may find a trip to the optometrists unnerving. This page of our website takes you through the stages of an eye examination which may also be helpful.   If we don’t manage to complete the whole examination in one appointment, that is absolutely no problem, and a follow up appointment can be easily made. It may be that the patient would prefer the pre-screening tests performed one day, and then the tests with the optometrist, performed on another day. This is absolutely fine and something some patients prefer.   Preparing children: There are many popular children’s programmes that have episodes specifically about the characters visiting an optometrist, Topsy and Tim, Peppa Pig and Get Well Soon being a few. Watching these programmes may help children prepare for an appointment. Books such as ‘Going to the Optician’ by Avril Webster and ‘Going to the Optician’, a Biff and Chip book by Roderick Hunt are also good books to read in advance.  In conclusion, we have extensive experience in assisting people for whom a trip to the optometrist may not be straightforward. We can be entirely flexible to ensure their visit is as stress-free as possible. We always read the latest advice on how to help patients during their appointment, and are happy to incorporate anything into the appointment that may make things easier such as a timer. Please let us know how we can tailor the appointment to best suit your requirements at the time of booking.

How to spot if your child could have vision problems and why glasses are no longer the best option for short-sighted children. Thankfully, there is something you can do to slow the progression of short-sightedness, reducing the chance of your child developing serious eye conditions in later life. Here award-winning optometrist, Ian Cameron, explains.

A guide to how to know when your child should see an optometrist. Remember eye examinations for children in full time education are free.

If your child is short-sighted (myopic), you may be aware of the benefits of myopia management, slowing the progression of the short-sightenedness. Until now, we have had great success managing myopia through the use of specialist contact lenses. However contact lenses aren't for every child and we're delighted that these new glasses offer the same benefits. Here Gillian and Ian explain more.

In the UK one in three people will end up myopic, the medical term for short-sighted, where objects in the distance appear blurred. Mild to moderate myopia can be corrected with glasses or contact lenses, however high levels of myopia can be far more problematic. As the degree of myopia increases the lenses in your glasses get thicker, but more worryingly, the risk of developing additional eye conditions such as retinal detachments, glaucoma and cataracts, increases. Having family members who are short-sighted is a strong risk factor for developing it yourself. While we cannot do anything about our genetics there are steps you can take to reduce the chance of becoming short-sighted (myopic). Increase the amount of time spent outside each day. The brightness of natural light is thought to limit the rate of myopia progression. At least two hours a day is a good target. Take regular breaks from close work. Look away from close tasks, such as working on a computer or reading, for a minute or so to change focus, or vary tasks every 30-60 minutes to alter the focusing demands on your vision. Limit additional close work (over and above school or work) to two hours per day. This includes reading, hand held computer games, drawing, homework and computer work. Keep your prescription up to date. Research shows that wearing the correct prescription slows the development of myopia, whereas wearing a prescription weaker than you require, speeds it up. Start early. The earlier in life these steps are taken, the best chance they have of making a difference. Find out more about Myopia Management – slowing the progression of myopia in children.

Understanding short-sightedness (myopia) in children. Why it matters and what you can do to reduce your child's chances of developing the condition. As well as information on Myopia Management contact lenses, proven to slow the development of short-sightedness by at least 50%.

Here Ian Cameron, of Cameron Optometry in Edinburgh, shares his tips on how to help your child (and you!) avoid digital eyestrain. Following these suggestions may also help your child avoid developing myopia (short-sightedness). Parents regularly debate how much screen time their children should have for numerous reasons, one of which may be their concern for their vision. With a dramatic rise in children developing myopia (shortsightedness), some point at the rise in the amount of time children spend in front of screens, usually iPads or phones, be it at school, doing homework, communicating with friends or playing games. Add in watching TV, and most children are spending hours a day looking at a screen. Tips for parents: Blue light that is emitted from screens can be very tiring for children’s eyes, causing headaches, blurred vision and disturbed sleep patterns. Purchase your child some blue light filtering spectacles or tinted lenses, which will filter out the harmful effects of blue light. Holding phones, tablets, games consoles and kindles close to the face, requires children to use their eyes’ zoom function causing eyes to tire. Increase text size and encourage them to hold the appliance at arms length, will help. Encourage them to take a 20-20-20 break: every 20 minutes, take a 20-second break, looking at something 20 feet away. A rule we should all stick to. Although genetics play a significant role in whether a child will be short-sighted, other risk factors include how much time they spend indoors and how much time they spend focussing on near tasks. So spending more time outside may help. Ensure children have their eyes examined annually but immediately if they have any issues with their vision. An eye examination will investigate any prescription, or muscle weakness that may be making close vision tasks difficult. Please see our leaflets on blue light and digital eyestrain for further information or speak to your optometrist if you have any concerns. Visit cameronoptom.com/myopia for further information on short-sightedness in children.

Myopia Management (also known as Myopia Control) aims to slow the progression of myopia in children through identifying risk factors, making adjustments to lifestyle, specialised contact lenses, and occasionally with specific multifocal spectacle lenses. At Cameron Optometry, our expertise in contact lenses allows us to provide the most advanced options available based on up-to-date research, which has found Myopia Management contact lenses can slow the progression of myopia by over 50%. Myopia management is very unlikely to halt the progression, however the aim is that by the time your child reaches adulthood their prescription will be significantly less than it would have been if their myopia was left untreated, meaning they maintain as good vision as possible without their spectacles on and reduce their risk of serious eye disease in later life. Ian Cameron performing eye examination on girl An example is a nine-year-old patient who started with a low level of myopia (-0.50DS). Using the best available research we were able to predict that wearing glasses or contact lenses would mean they end up with a prescription of -4.85DS. However if they wore myopia management contact lenses from this point then on average they would end up as -2.72DS. What difference does this make to the child? Would they not have to wear glasses anyway? Yes they would however, if you have a prescription of -2.72DS then although your far vision is blurred without your glasses or contact lenses, you can see things clearly at around 35cm which is practical for reading, computer use and many near vision tasks. If your prescription climbs to -4.84DS then your far vision is significantly more blurred without your glasses and close things have to be brought to around 20cm to be seen clearly, which is must less practical for day to day tasks. In addition, with higher amounts of myopia you are at considerably increased risk or eye disease in adulthood over someone with less or no myopia. With a prescription of -4.84 you are around 10 times more likely to have a retinal detachment in the future than a person without myopia. This is reduced to four times more likely if you are -2.72DS. You can see from this that, whilst the contact lenses cannot stop the progression of short-sightedness, they can significantly improve how a person lives.

As children progress through school, they naturally spend more time on screens. It is not ideal for the eyes but sometimes it is unavoidable, so how can we help children avoid the discomfort associated with spending longer periods in front of screens, and help the long-term health of their eyes? The 20-20-20 rule is a helpful one for everyone. Look up from the screen every 20 minutes, focusing on something 20 feet away, for at least 20 seconds. This eases discomfort, as well as potentially helping to prevent short-sightedness developing. Setting a timer to encourage children to change tasks and relax their eyes regularly can be helpful. They should also do good conscious blinks to help lubricate the eyes, as we blink a lot less when concentrating on a screen. Lubricating eye drops may also help with dry eyes. Ideally, spend a couple of hours outside each day. Studies show that spending over 14 hours outside per week, compared to less than five hours, reduces the chance of a child becoming short-sighted by a third. At the moment, children don’t have their regular commute to and from school, as well as their breaks outside, so it would be beneficial for their eyes if plenty of outdoor time is factored into their day.  Keep reading materials, including screens, at least 20cm away at all times. Holding phones, tablets, games consoles and kindles close to the face, requires children to use their eyes’ zoom function causing eyes to tire. So, we suggest you increase text size and encourage them to hold the appliance at arm’s length. Try to limit additional close work over and above school or work. This includes reading, hand held computer games, tablets, drawing, homework and computer work. Finally, blue light that is emitted from screens can be very tiring for children’s eyes, causing headaches, blurred vision and disturbed sleep patterns. Your child might be willing to try blue light filtering spectacles or tinted lenses, which will filter out the harmful effects of blue light. As a result of spending much more time on close tasks and less on long distance, like activities, like sport, a child may be less likely to notice if their short-sight is suffering so, it’s definitely worth keeping an eye on. With short-sightedness (myopia) specifically, the sooner it is identified the more chance we have of slowing the progression.  If your child is suffering from any changes to their vision, headaches, sore eyes, sensitivity to screens or anything else that gives you cause for concern, please get in touch. Regardless, your child should still have their eyes examined at least every two years, more frequently if they have had any issues.

We are normally inundated with children visiting the practice during the summer months, with parents and carers booking in an eye examination, along with a fitting for school shoes, stationery orders, labelling umpteen items and everything else, on what always seems like a mammoth to do list before children return to the classroom. This year has been very different… Everyone is playing catch up as we try to return to some sort of normality. We are now open for routine eye examinations. The wait is a little longer as we have one less examination room open, but we’re here and we’d love to see your child. In an ideal, pre-Covid-19, world, we would advise that all children have their first eye examination before they start primary one, then at least every two years thereafter, but sooner if you have any causes for concern. That said, please don’t worry if your child is kicking off the new term without having had their eyes examined. This video (filmed last year) gives you an idea of what to look out for, indicators that your child may have issues with their vision. We recommend you still get your child booked in as soon as you can, but in the meantime, as they start back to school, look out for these signs that may suggest there is an issue. Remember, eye examinations for children are free, and check not only the way your child sees, but also the scans we take, look for issues relating to eye health and can also show signs of other health issues, so it is definitely worth getting your child booked in when you can. You can find out details of what to expect when you visit here and cast your eyes over our new hygiene measures.  We look forward to seeing everyone soon.

As many of us continue homeschooling our children, they are inevitable spending more time in front of screens. Ian Cameron has compiled this video with tips on how to help them avoid digital eyestrain, with his very able assistants. The advice applies to adults too, so hopefully helpful for the whole family. Some of these suggestions may also help your child avoid developing myopia (short-sightedness) in the longer term. Here are some helpful leaflets for further information: Digital eyestrain in children  Digital eyestrain – adults Is blue light harming my vision? If you have any concerns about your child's vision, please don't hesitate to get in touch: vision@cameronoptom.com 0131 225 2235

Encouraging news for the battle against increasing rates of short-sightedness in children Cameron Optometry is delighted to announce it now has over 50 patients using Myopia Management contact lenses, one of the highest numbers of patients for any practice in the UK. Here clinical lead optometrist, Gillian Bruce, reflects on the positive impact that the revolutionary lenses have had on children in the area. Explaining Myopia Management The rates of myopia in children is on the rise. Myopia is expected to affect 50% of the world population by 2050. In the UK the amount of myopia has increased from 10% to 23% of children in the past 50 years. It is widely acknowledged that something needs to be done to reverse this trend. Myopia Management contact lenses are proven to slow the progression of short-sightedness in children. Simply put, this means children will have a lower prescription when they reach adulthood than they would without the contact lenses. A high prescription increases an individual’s chance of developing serious eye conditions such as retinal detachment, in later life, in addition to the daily challenges that a high prescription brings.  The research and results We read the extensive research before trialling the contact lenses, and were one of the first practices in Scotland to introduce them. The ongoing research firmly supports their effectiveness and we are encouraged to see hugely positive results in our own patients. In many cases, we have found children whose prescription had increased year on year have found their prescriptions stabilise with the lenses, whilst in others their progression of myopia has slowed significantly. The results have reaffirmed the benefits of the lenses, with our own experience adding weight to the effectiveness of the lenses. The future for Myopia Management It is hugely encouraging to hit this milestone however there are still so many who are unaware of the contact lenses and they are not widely prescribed. We will continue to promote the benefits of Myopia Management so parents are aware there is another option. The rates of short-sightedness in children continues to rise and worryingly there seems no sign that this will change, so with that in mind, we hope the contact lenses become more widely used and more accessible to all.  As the rates of myopia increase significantly across the world, we expect further developments in Myopia Management and will ensure our practice remains leaders in this field.  Further information on Myopia Management What is myopia? Myopia is the medical term for short-sightedness, when the eyeball is too long or too powerful. The result is that light coming into the eye does not focus directly on the retina (the light sensitive layer at the back of the eye), but instead falls in front of it, causing objects in the distance to look blurred. Myopia is traditionally corrected by wearing spectacles or contact lenses. As the eye grows, a person typically becomes more myopic and the power of their spectacle of contact lens prescription increases. Prescriptions over -6DS are considered to be high levels of myopia. Why do people develop myopia? Research suggests that a person’s genetics, lifestyle and their day-to-day environment all play a part. People who spend more time doing tasks at a close distance such as working on computers and reading, and those who spend less time outdoors seem more likely to develop myopia. There is a 46% probability of developing myopia if both parents are myopic, 31% with one parent and 22% if no parents are myopic. Females have a greater gender tendency for myopia than males.  Does myopia get worse during childhood? Yes. Generally, once you have myopia your spectacle prescription gets greater over time, in particular during childhood as the eye grows. The key years of change in myopia are between six and 17 years old with the largest change in prescription typically happening at around seven to eight years and changes getting less as you get older. Generally, myopic children wearing traditional glasses or contact lenses will continue to increase in myopia by approximately 0.50 to 1.00 D (units of measurement) per year. We can use these figures to calculate what we expect a child’s prescription level to be by the time they are in their late teens when change starts to slow or stop. Many people develop myopia later in life, however if a child develops myopia, they are at risk of their vision deteriorating much more quickly and for many more years leading to a higher eventual prescription. What is Myopia Management? Myopia Management aims to slow down the progression of myopia in children and young adults through lifestyle changes, the use of specialised contact lenses, eye drops (not currently available in the UK) and in some cases spectacle lenses. It is a relatively new concept although research into the causes of myopia and how to slow its progression has been ongoing for decades. At Cameron Optometry our expertise in contact lenses allows us to provide the most advanced options available based on up to date research. We have now been successfully fitting children with contact lenses for Myopia Management for three years. Research has found the results of Myopia Management through the use of specialised contact lenses, to be effective, with recent studies showing that a 59% reduction in the progression of myopia is achievable. It also concluded that contact lenses are tolerated very well by children. Myopia Management contact lenses Myopia Management contact lenses are designed to firstly correct your child’s vision so they can see well and secondly to slow the process of eyeball growth, with the aim of reducing how short sighted they eventually become. The aim of treatment is to slow the rate of decline by around 50%. Myopia Management contact lenses cannot be expected to completely halt the progression, nor can it reduce your child’s prescription from the point at which they start with the contact lenses. The research We base our Myopia Management programme on guidance by the International Myopia Institute. In 2019 the Institute gathered together the leading figures in research into myopia and processed all the research on myopia to produce seven papers. If you are interested in further reading into myopia you can access these papers at: Brien Holden Vision research on Myopia Management Please get in touch if you would like further information or to make an appointment for a free assessment for your child.

Last month we welcomed parents of children with congenital cataracts to a coffee morning to meet others in a similar position and to discuss any concerns with our optometrists. We are also setting up an online group which parents can join to ask questions and support each other. If you missed this, please get in touch to ensure you receive an invite for our next meet up. Email vision@cameronoptom.com.

Your child's sight is precious. Good vision helps them to learn, play and communicate with the world around them. The number one piece of advice any eye care professional will offer is to ensure they have regular eye examinations. The sooner any issues are identified, the better the outcome. In addition, eating a rainbow diet, full of colourful fruit and veg, as well as fish, eggs and grains will give them lots of eye-friendly nutrients. And always ensure their eyes are protected in the sun. Read this helpful guide, produced as part of National Eye Health Week. View Kids Eye Health Leaflet

As part of the Association of Optometrist's ABSee campaign, they have produced a helpful guide covering advice on when to spot your child may need to see an optometrist, tips on looking after their vision and the options available if they do require vision correction. Download children's eye health leaflet here.

We hope the start of the new term is going well for all who went back this week. Did you manage to get your child's eyes examined over the holidays? Children should have their eyes examined by an optometrist every two years from pre-school. Signs there is an issue Most children assume that the way they see is normal so you cannot rely on them to tell you if there is a problem.  Here are some signs you can look out for that may suggest they have an issue with their vision: headaches and sore eyes difficulty concentrating using fingers to track text or losing their place when reading having issues with coordination for example when playing ball games squinting or closing one eye when reading or watching television showing sensitivity to light or the glare from a screen. Contact lenses for children If your child already wears glasses, they may be interested in looking at options wearing contact lenses. We have a huge range of options for children as young as seven. From our Myopia Management lenses are actually proven to slow the progression of short-sightedness in children, to our Ortho-K lenses which are worn overnight, leaving them free from lenses by day. Please get in touch if you would like to discuss your child's suitability for contact lenses.  At Cameron Optometry we offer the most comprehensive (and fun!) eye examination available and it’s all free-of-charge. Book in with an award-winning optometrist today. You can book online, call 0131 225 2235 or fill in this form and we'll get back to you to arrange an appointment. Error: Contact form not found.

New uniform. New shoes. New pencil case. New bag. What about some new glasses to make sure your child looks super smart when they go back to school? We are offering your child, the chance to win their choice of designer eyewear. The winner will meet with one of our eyewear consultants who will guide them, letting them experiment with new styles and new brands to find them frames they love. We’ll then get their chosen frames made up for their prescription using the highest quality lenses available, including anti-scratch for extra durability! If they don’t have an up-to-date prescription, we can book them in for an eye examination too. We offer the most comprehensive eye examination available, free of charge to children in full-time education, so if your child is due a check up, you can book them in by calling 0131 225 2235 or on our website using our online booking system. Having the right prescription can make such a difference to children in the classroom, helping with reading, concentration, coordination and much more. Children should have their eyes examined at least every two years, and more frequently if they already wear glasses or contact lenses. Want to win? Simply fill in your details on the form below and follow our Facebook to be in with a chance of winning this prize. Cameron Optometry Error: Contact form not found. Terms and conditions The winner will be notified by Monday 20 August 2018. The winning child must visit the practice in person to choose their frames. Prize must be redeemed by Friday 19 October 2018. Competition is open to all children 2-18 years (in full-time education). No cash alternative. The name of the winner will be shared on Cameron Optometry’s social media pages.

When we first wrote in our blog about Myopia Management over two years ago, it was all quite new. Cameron Optometry was one of the first optometrists in the UK to set up a Myopia Management programme and then became the first in Scotland to prescribe the new MiSight daily contact lenses. Since then a lot more research has been done into the effectiveness of Myopia Management and we read regular reports about the ‘myopia epidemic’ facing us, as the number of short-sighted children continue to rise steadily. Further research into treatment options for myopia are due to start soon in Scotland, which is exciting for everyone who is hoping to halt the progression of myopia in children. Our programme is now well-established. We have patients as young as seven-years-old who have adapted well to their lenses and are already reaping the benefits. The majority of patients who, until they started wearing the lenses, experienced a steady deterioration of their vision, are now seeing these changes slow considerably and for some their vision hasn’t deteriorated at all. We have real confidence in the impact the lenses have. We read all the research and attended the extensive training, but now we are seeing first hand, how effective Myopia Management lenses are. We have a fascination and love for eyes, but we appreciate people don’t always share our passion and don’t like the idea of poking around in there. However, we’re amazed how quickly children adapt. Working closely with our handling team, they find out what works best for them. Everyone has their own technique, it’s not a case of one size fitting all. By the time children come in for a check up, they are confident and are so eager to show off their ability. That’s what makes our job so special. We know each child on our Myopia Management programme is reducing the chance of developing serious eye conditions in later life, and they’re embracing it. For the children, they don’t necessarily understand the bigger picture, but they like being like mum and dad with their lenses and many are glad to be free of glasses. For parents, they can take reassurance that they are doing everything they can to give their child the best chance of reducing their child’s short-sightedness in the long term. Yes, there are those who struggle and it doesn’t work out. For some children, putting a contact lens in their eye is just too weird! But that doesn’t need to be for ever and it’s always worth having another go a year down the line. Our success rate is very high and we would encourage anyone who is interested in finding out more, to get in touch. We offer free Myopia Management assessments as part of any child’s eye examination, which are free for all children in full-time education. If you have any questions about Myopia Management, you can email us at vision@cameronoptom.com or call 0131 225 2235. You can also book appointments here on our website cameronoptom.com.

We are thrilled to announce that we have won the Practice Growth Award at the national UK Optician Awards. The highly regarded awards, recognise excellence in the optical industry.  This award is acknowledgement of how we have grown the business in 2017. Our impressive figures can be largely attributed to the increase in number of children joining the practice, as well as a significant growth in our eyewear boutique, the Frame Room, which launched in 2016. It has always been our mission to ensure that all children have their eyes examined at least every two years and we are delighted to have welcomed many new faces over the past year. We offer the most comprehensive eye examination available in Edinburgh at no cost and we’re pleased to see that more parents are now aware of the difference between this examination and a basic eye test.  We’ve also seen a real increase in children wearing contact lenses. Many children are now preferring contact lenses to glasses for lifestyle reasons, in particular sporty youngsters. We’ve also run a campaign to educate parents of myopic children regarding the benefits of Myopia Management lenses, which slow the progression of short-sightedness in children. Interest in these revolutionary contact lenses is set to increase as awareness of their impact grows. We have a team of optometrists and dispensing specialists who are hugely passionate, working tirelessly to help children transition to contact lens wear, ensuring it is a positive experience for the child and their carers.  Patients will have also noticed that we’ve overhauled our dispensing room and this is another area where we saw real growth in 2017. We moved from a standard opticians displaying hundreds of mass-produced frames, to a high-end fashion boutique, the Frame Room, stocking a range of handcrafted, independent designers. Our personalised consultation has meant we have seen patients experiment with their frames, often moving away from ‘safe’ styles and well-known brands, being a little more adventurous with styles and designers. Previously the high standard of eye care was in contrast with the eyewear offering. Now they share the same core values of the highest quality, attention to detail and with a strong focus on the patient.   Thank you to all those who have supported us as we continue to grow and build our independent optometry practice. And to our new patients who have joined our practice in the last year, we hope you’ve been happy with your decision for you and your family.  Awards  Practice Growth Award 2018 Children’s Contact Lens Practice of the Year Finalist 2018 UK Practice of the Year Finalist 2017 Technology Practice of the Year Finalist 2016 Contact Lens Practitioner of the Year 2015 UK Practice of the Year 2014 For further information: Myopia Management Frame Room