Then there might be help.

It seems researchers have invented a new type of contact lens to be worn at night which will apparently help near sighted people see better during the day.

The treatment known as Orthokeratology or Ortho-k for short helps to redesign the cornea of near sighted individuals.

Myopia is caused by an eyeball that is too long or a cornea that is curved. As a consequence light entering the eye misses the target on the retina.

However the contact lenses must be worn at night (whilst sleeping) and taken out when the morning comes.

A person’s vision is said to be clear during the day.

Speaking with reporters, one person who recently had ortho-k treatment said: “I don’t have to worry about them falling out when I’m playing sports or swimming.”

Another person who likes the Ortho-k lenses more than his traditional ones added: “For some reason, I found it a lot more annoying to wear them [contact lenses] all day than to just put them in at night.”

Nearsightedness or myopia is common in about one-third of people. It appears during childhood but gets progressively worse until around age 20.

Ortho-k has been around for some time in the USA, but many experts were sceptical of its value.

But recent research does appear to bear out what many others believe. While it may not be a cure for myopia it is certainly benefiting people.

The success of Orthokeratology for use in treating nearsightedness has encouraged medical scientists to see whether it will be useful for other eye conditions. These include age related vision loss, astigmatism and even farsightedness.