DailyHealth

PARIS — Paul's teacher noticed two years ago that the 10-year-old boy was no longer able to see anything on the board in front of the class.

An ophthalmologist confirmed that Paul was one of the growing number of children worldwide who had myopia, also known as nearsightedness. By 2050, half of the world's population is expected to have this eye condition.

However, the eye doctor in the western French city of Nantes had some encouraging news:

Paul's myopia could be slowed down with specially designed glasses that had just become

available.

Paul's mother, Caroline Boudet, told AFP, "The results were quite positive because his

eyesight seemed to have stabilized after a year."

Myopia progresses 60% more slowly in children who wear "Miyosmart" glasses t

han in children who wear regular prescription glasses, according to previous research.

A six-year clinical study also found that children who stopped wearing glasses did not

experience a recurrence of the disorder.

The Miyosmart lenses, developed by Japan's Hoya Corporation and designed to help

children see clearly, have been available for approximately two years in a number

of European nations, including France and the United Kingdom.

Eyewear firm EssilorLuxottica claims its own Smallest focal points diminish nearsightedness'

movement by 67% when worn something like 12 hours per day.

The Italian French firm said the glasses could save more than one dioptre — the unit of

estimation for optical power — north of three years.

Nearsightedness happens when there is an excess of distance between the cornea and

retina, making far away articles seem foggy.

To combat peripheral hyperopic defocus, in which light falls behind the retina, resulting

in a longer eyeball and worsening of myopia, Miyosmart and Stellest glasses use

hundreds of tiny lenses.

The Miyosmart glasses are not available in the United States; however, the Food and

Drug Administration of the United States has approved CooperVision contact lenses,

which function in a similar manner.

According to research, the prevalence of myopia worldwide could rise from 27%

in 2010 to 52% by 2050.

Although no one in Paul's family is myopic, children with at least one nearsighted

parent are more likely to develop the condition.

The increase in cases is thought to be caused by environmental factors rather than

genetic factors.

According to researchers, "the myopia generation" is likely the result of children

spending more time indoors, being exposed to less natural light, and looking at

nearby objects like screens.

The new glasses that slow down the progression of myopia, according to Claude

Speeg-Schatz, head of the French Society of Ophthalmology, left her "quite amazed."

She stated, "We have tried many things to prevent myopia, but this is the first time we

have a system that really works."

For as of late analyzed youngsters, she initially recommends ordinary restorative glasses.She stated, "If the myopia increases, then I automatically prescribe" the glasses that control myopia.

French ophthalmologist Jimmy Chammas said the glasses were "a genuine increase f

or youngsters."

He stated, "The myopia of those who wear these glasses deteriorates — if at all — half as

much as we would have expected."

The fact that parents pay more for the glasses, which vary depending on the country, is

one obstacle.

Hoya Vision Care France CEO Jean-Michel Lambert demanded reimbursement for

he glasses from French healthcare providers.

"If we slow down myopia, it will be one less cost for society," he said, "each dioptre

lost significantly increases the risk of future pathologies."

A prescription reading of -2 indicates nearsightedness by two dioptres.

Partial blindness of - 6 dioptres or more is called high nearsightedness, which can

expand the gamble of serious eye harm like retinal separation, glaucoma or beginning

stage waterfalls.