Queen's University Belfast

Academic Institute

Economic and Social Research Council

Yes

150

Myopia (short‐ or near‐sight) is an increasingly common eye condition. Not only is it becoming more common in childhood, the evidence is that children are becoming myopic at a younger age than in the past. Children are diagnosed with myopia by optometrists or ophthalmic medical practitioners during NHS funded sight tests and spectacle correction is subsidised by the NHS through a spectacle ‘voucher’. We plan to use the information recorded about the age at which children have had their eyes tested, whether they were given glasses and what strength the glasses were to investigate at what age contemporary children typically get their first pair of spectacles to correct myopia and how strong those glasses are. We know from research we have already conducted that most ophthalmic practitioners in Northern Ireland expect children to get their first myopic spectacles in their teenage years, and we also know from our research that most children actually become myopic before they reach 12 years of age. We want to know if practitioners’ views are reflected in what is actually prescribed for children across Northern Ireland. We also want to know if the age at which glasses are first prescribed for myopia and whether their strength is influenced by where the child lives, his/her family circumstances, where they get their eyes tested and by whom. We will use data from the national Census to help us gather the necessary data to make these comparisons and they will allow us to determine whether children are missing out on getting their glasses in a timely fashion and whether certain children are more at risk for this than others. Research has demonstrated significant educational disadvantage to myopic children who don’t wear glasses and we aim to find out how much and for how many children delayed prescribing may influence educational attainment. If we find evidence that children (or a subgroup of children) are not accessing and receiving eye care in a timely fashion we will engage with the public, eye, health and education professionals in order to raise awareness of the importance of early and regular sight testing.

Outcomes from this study will be used to inform both the ophthalmic profession and the public. If the timings and magnitude of first spectacle corrections highlight that children are experiencing a delay in diagnosis and management of myopia, public health messages and information for practitioners and other health and education professionals will be developed. It has been shown that uncorrected myopia has a negative impact on educational outcomes and therefore, timely correction of myopia is important.

01/10/2019

TRE