LENS BEFORE LOGIC?

With childhood myopia rates on the rise, more parents are turning to ortho-k lenses to reshape young eyes overnight. But are contact lenses for children a visionary fix, or are we rushing in too soon?

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In a world where kids are swapping playgrounds for pixels, and screen time trumps sunshine, it's no wonder that myopia is becoming the latest childhood epidemic.

Enter ortho-k lenses, the overnight magic trick promising to reshape young corneas and halt the march of nearsightedness. But as more parents in the UAE consider fitting their children with these lenses, a pressing question arises: Are we jumping the gun on early adoption?

The myopia surge

Myopia, or nearsightedness, is on a meteoric rise among children worldwide. A comprehensive study published in the British Journal of Ophthalmology projected that by 2050, over 740 million children and teenagers globally will be affected by myopia. This surge is attributed to increased screen time and reduced outdoor activities, especially during the Covid-19 pandemic lockdowns.

In the UAE, while specific national statistics are limited, the trend mirrors global patterns. Urban lifestyles, academic pressures, and digital device usage contribute to the escalating rates of myopia among children.

Ortho-K lenses