Following trial results the lenses which reshape the curvature of the eye while the wearer sleeps have been hailed as a major breakthrough.

Results showed that wearing the lenses helped prevent the development of short-sightedness and allowed already short-sighted children to enjoy normal vision without corrective glasses or contact lenses.

Previous research had already shown that in adults, vision is corrected the day after the lenses are worn but the effect is only temporary.

Professor James Wolffsohn, an eye expert at Aston University, said: “I am very excited. This technique has huge potential and I believe will change the way we treat short-sightedness.

“We have to show this technique can not only provide perfect vision during the day but also arrest the development of short-sightedness in the future.”