“Urgent” Need for Long-Term Myopia Management in UK
New survey reveals “huge gaps” in parents’ understanding of childhood myopia
Credit: Essilor
An Ipsos survey of 1,000 UK parents (1), commissioned by Essilor, has revealed a serious lack of understanding around myopia in children. For example,
- 94 percent of parents of myopic children wrongly believe that wearing glasses will solve the problem.
- Half (54 percent) of the parents were unaware that “the earlier myopia starts, the faster it progresses and the more serious it can become.”
- Almost half (48 percent) of all parents were unaware that myopia is progressing faster today than in previous generations.
- Almost two thirds of parents (61 percent) admitted to finding it increasingly difficult to know exactly what to do to ensure that their child is and remains in good health.
The survey shows that the majority of parents take a short-term view of myopia management, focusing on immediate compensation for the problem, overlooking the importance of follow-ups once the correction is in place and existing solutions that can slow down the progression.
Charlotte Timbury, Dispensing Optician and Director of Medical & Professional Affairs for EssilorLuxottica North Europe said: “Myopia must be addressed and managed as soon as possible in childhood. [Thankfully], recent developments in myopia control spectacle lenses can help this.”
Essilor is currently working with Mumsnet.com to host an “ask the expert” Q&A answering questions on the topic of myopia and eye health.
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- International survey conducted by Ipsos in six countries on 6007 parents with at least one child aged from 5 to 17, from a representative sample of individuals aged from 25 to 60 in terms of age, gender, occupation, and region.
