CANDY Is Good for Your Child"s Vision!
Various studies addressing the control of nearsightedness and astigmatism in children and young adults (eg the recently published CANDY study) have been making the rounds of various vision journals of late.
The studies originate in the observation by this author and many others that patients who have been fit into ortho-k lenses (orthokeratology) usually never require a change in their lens design or prescription.
I have fit lenses of this type for over 20 years and became convinced of their power to prevent change many years before any formal studies were initiated.
Doctors who spoke of this were considered 'nuts' of course and when I put my then 7yo daughter into them four years ago, I could only share those ideas with a few.
I fit her into overnight ortho-k retainer lenses to be worn two nights a week, to correct her 1/2 diopter of myopia (nearsighted).
Four years later, her eyes have not changed.
Her mother and I are 7+ diopters nearsighted and are thrilled that she has the opportunity to dodge that bullet.
As studies are published, you are starting to see an interest by the ophthalmic community in this modality and I hope more doctors will learn the skills necessary to perhaps eliminate nearsightedness in our lifetime.
Many have monetary interests in making sure this does not happen and I expect there to be many smear campaigns mounted.
But my kids at least will perhaps never know what it is like to face the awful decision of whether or not to have surgery on their eyes just to correct a very annoying, but ultimately harmless thing, like nearsightedness.
The studies originate in the observation by this author and many others that patients who have been fit into ortho-k lenses (orthokeratology) usually never require a change in their lens design or prescription.
I have fit lenses of this type for over 20 years and became convinced of their power to prevent change many years before any formal studies were initiated.
Doctors who spoke of this were considered 'nuts' of course and when I put my then 7yo daughter into them four years ago, I could only share those ideas with a few.
I fit her into overnight ortho-k retainer lenses to be worn two nights a week, to correct her 1/2 diopter of myopia (nearsighted).
Four years later, her eyes have not changed.
Her mother and I are 7+ diopters nearsighted and are thrilled that she has the opportunity to dodge that bullet.
As studies are published, you are starting to see an interest by the ophthalmic community in this modality and I hope more doctors will learn the skills necessary to perhaps eliminate nearsightedness in our lifetime.
Many have monetary interests in making sure this does not happen and I expect there to be many smear campaigns mounted.
But my kids at least will perhaps never know what it is like to face the awful decision of whether or not to have surgery on their eyes just to correct a very annoying, but ultimately harmless thing, like nearsightedness.
