Myopia (Nearsightedness)

How We Can Help Control Your Child's Nearsightedness

Myopia, also known as nearsightedness, is a common vision problem that affects millions of children and adults worldwide. It occurs when the eyeball is too long or the cornea is too curved, causing distant objects to appear blurry while nearby objects remain clear. While eyeglasses and contact lenses can help correct myopia, they do not address the underlying cause of the condition, which can progress over time and increase the risk of vision-threatening conditions later in life.

Fortunately, myopia management can slow or even stop the progression of nearsightedness, reducing the risk of these complications and improving your child's quality of life.

  • Atropine Eye Drops

Atropine eye drops are a low-dose medication that relaxes the eye's focusing mechanism, slowing the progression of myopia. These eye drops are typically used in combination with other myopia management strategies, such as ortho-k lenses or multifocal contact lenses.

  • Vision Therapy

Vision therapy is a non-invasive treatment that involves a series of exercises and activities designed to improve visual processing and strengthen the eye muscles. This can help reduce myopia progression and improve overall visual function.

At our Optimal Eye Care, we offer a range of myopia management options that can help control your child's nearsightedness. These include:

  • Orthokeratology

Ortho-k lenses are specially designed contact lenses that are worn overnight to temporarily reshape the cornea, allowing light to focus properly on the retina. Studies have shown that ortho-k lenses can slow myopia progression by up to 50%, making them an effective option for children who are not yet ready for LASIK surgery.

  • Eyeglasses or Contact Lenses

Eyeglasses and contact lenses are the most common solutions to myopia. In some cases multifocal contact lenses are selected. Multifocal contact lenses have different power zones that correct vision at various distances, helping the eyes to focus on distant objects more easily. This can reduce eye strain and fatigue, which can worsen myopia over time.

If you're concerned about your child's myopia and want to learn more about myopia management options available at Optimal Eye Care, please contact us to schedule an appointment. Our experienced optometrists can evaluate your child's eyes and recommend the best course of action to control their nearsightedness and improve their visual health.