School holidays

We love school holidays at CapitalEyes, because it’s a time when we see more than our usual number of kids and teens for their eyecare.  There are those we’ve seen before, but also we’re really enjoying meeting a number of new kids.  From the 3 year olds in their favourite gumboots and sparkling dress ups to the older teens, who are now driving and looking forward to finishing school and the exciting adventures beyond.

A topic that gets us excited is myopia management.  How can we help slow the progression of myopia for kids and teens, who are either just starting to become myopic or are already moderately myopic (short sighted).  There is so much research and now options that their already myopic parents never had.  From advanced optics in spectacle lenses that alter the peripheral retina focus, thus slowing progression, to using eye drops or contact lenses with optics to slow myopic progression.

Parents are often surprised by the fact that if one parent is myopic their children have double the risk of developing myopia but having both parents myopic, the risk increases by five times.  But equally they are excited that there are options to slow progression, that they never had, and so we spend a lot of time explaining options and recommending for their child’s best visual future.

The other surprise for parents is often how well kids , even 8 year olds manage to handle their own contact lenses.  And we love seeing the confidence that comes from having clear vision, both for sports and socially at school.

We hope everyone enjoys the school holidays as much as we do!