By Steve Roberts 

Contact lenses for children  worn only while sleeping could be the perfect solution for their vision needs now that the new school year is about to start. The new overnight ortho-k contact lenses not only correct a child's shortsightedness while they sleep but also can prevent the shortsightedness becoming worse which, in normal circumstances, could otherwise deteriorate by as much as 0.5 diopters every year through to early adulthood. This is a timely warning given the steady flow of research from around the world which shows that many children who appear to struggle in their early school years are suffering from some form of vision defect rather than any inherent learning difficulty.

Hence, the UK like many countries is emphasizing the importance of getting children's eyesight tested before they head back to school and to ensure that they are tested regularly - at least every year - to ensure that vision defects are diagnosed as early as possible when treatment options are more likely to be effective. Recently, the state of Oklahoma's professional optical body reported that some 60% of children described as ‘problem learners' were actually found to be suffering from some form of vision defect. By prescribing glasses or contact lenses for children , the resulting corrected vision meant that they were able to participate fully in classroom activities.

With young children, it is often difficult to detect if there is a vision problem without a full eye test since the child is not necessarily aware he or she has a problem. As such, less obvious signs such as needing to sit closer to the television or holding books and comics closer to their eyes when reading provide some of the early indications that a problem may exist. Hence a regular eye test is an essential step to take. However, equally important is deciding which corrective option should be chosen if a vision defect is confirmed. Traditionally, most children are initially prescribed glasses but contact lenses for children  - especially the overnight ortho-k lenses for shortsightedness - can be a much better option and can be worn from as young as six years old.

Check if your child is suitable for overnight ortho-k corrective contact lenses .