MYOPIA MANAGEMENT

Myopia is commonly known as nearsightedness. It occurs when the eyeball grows too elongated, which causes light to focus in front of the retina (the back of the eye) instead of on the retina. Therefore, objects at a distance are out of focus and objects up close are clearer.

Myopia usually starts in childhood, when eyeballs are growing rapidly, and can worsen through the teen years and into the 20’s. The treatment for myopia is glasses and/or contacts. However, glasses and contacts alone doesn’t stop myopia progression. This is where myopia management comes into play, to try to stem the progression of myopia.

Both environmental and genetic factors can affect the advancement of myopia. An example of environmental could be prolonged close up work activities such as reading, studying, and increased computer/IPAD screen time. Genetic components such as both parents having nearsightedness can increase a child's chances of developing myopia as well.

There are some steps you can take at home to lessen the risks of myopia in your child. It is important to make sure reading material is being held not too close, but rather at an appropriate distance from the eyes, also always make sure when reading or doing any type of close work, that an adequate light source is present.

Over time and with the progression of myopia, the eye will typically elongate and cause more blurred vision at distance. High myopia carries an increased risk of ocular disease such as glaucoma, myopic macular degeneration and retinal detachment later in life. The goal in controlling progression, is to prevent serious eye diseases that may typically occur in the later years of life with higher levels of myopia. For this reason we tend to be more proactive when we see a young child with myopia in recommending myopia control.

We offer the soft Multifocal Contact lenses method of myopia control, designed to reduce the progression of myopia, not reverse it. Studies have been performed on this method, with positive results. Soft Multifocal Contact lenses are a specific design of multifocal lens used for myopia control in children 8-12.

CooperVision MiSight® 1 day contact lenses with ActivControl® Technology is the first and only FDA approved lenses that not only corrects nearsightedness but have been proven to slow the progression of myopia in children 8-12, at start of treatment, by 59% on average. When wearing MiSight® 1 day contact lenses, your child will experience clear vision, freedom from glasses and continue to enjoy the activities they love most.

If it is determined that your child has myopia, The Optometrists at Visibly Better Eye Care will prepare the best course of management specifically for you.