Companies launch new lenses that are perfect for students

 

By David Goldberg

 

Children and teens are increasingly living their lives in front of screens.

This contentious issue has been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Kept out of the classroom, kids spent hours on digital devices for school, gaming, streaming, talking to friends, and the list goes on.

A recent survey by Nature Canada discovered that during the pandemic, students in Grade 7-12 were spending more than seven hours each day in front of a screen, which is way more than the recommended maximum of two hours per day.

The screens aren’t going anywhere, so all you can do as an eye care professional is recommend the latest lens technology that protects eyes from digital strain and corrects childhood vision problems.

“With 80 percent of a child’s learning experience through vision, a comprehensive eye exam

with an optometrist is essential to a child’s academic success and development,” explains Simon Robert, executive director for Essilor Vision Foundation Canada.

You can also ensure your younger patients have the proper tools to combat the difficult obstacles to learning triggered by conditions such as myopia.

In response to this worldwide concern, Essilor has developed Myopilux lenses to correct myopia and help slow down its progression.

Myopilux Plus for wearers with esophoria has been shown to reduce myopia evolution by up to 37 per cent and Myopilux Max, for those with either near exophoria or an esophoria profile, is proven to reduce myopia evolution by up to 51 per cent.

From HOYA, there are PHOENIX lenses. These children’s lenses are virtually unbreakable and withstand hard impacts. Yet, they’re extremely thin and lightweight, providing maximum wearing comfort. They are easy to clean and extremely scratch-resistant, with one of the most durable anti-reflective coatings on the market today.

At Dr.’s Choice Optical, Joseph Coward says helping kids find the right lenses is extremely important as the ability to see the board is one of the determinants of a student’s success in school.

“Without proper vision,” he says, “kids may become frustrated, bored or restless in class, as they cannot see and therefore cannot process the information being taught.”

Dr.’s Choice makes lenses to treat several childhood eye issues including astigmatism, amblyopia (lazy eye), and strabismus (eye turn). 

For kids spending significant time on a computer or tablet, Dr’s Choice offers the Clearview® Blue Blocker Anti-Reflective Lens Coating. The Relaxed® lens reduces eyestrain while reading. This is ideal for classroom settings where reading and distance vision are both required.

For kids who are hard on their glasses, there are the impact-resistant Polycarbonate lenses from Dr.’s Choice Optical, which can be paired with the Anti-Scratch Hard Coat and the Maximum® Anti-Reflection coating to repel dirt, dust and water. 

It’s also important to let your patients know that the benefits of lenses can go beyond vision correction, according to Arnaud Rajchenbach, marketing manager at Transitions Optical.

“At home, in the classroom, and outdoors children are exposed to UV and harmful blue light from digital devices and the sun,” says Rajchenbach. “This exposure builds over time and can lead to digital eye strain and light sensitivity, causing symptoms of eye fatigue, headaches, dry eyes and blurred vision.” 

Transitions Signature GEN 8 lenses offer a great combination of protection and performance benefits that are ideal for kids. 

They’re also available in shatter and impact-resistant materials with a choice of seven colour options that can help make each patient’s eyewear special.

“Transitions lens technology and the fun colour choices can change the mindset of your younger patients and have them feel it is ‘cool’ to wear glasses,” adds Rajchenbach.