MYOPIA

Our practice offers myopia management, a treatment program prescribed to slow down the progression of myopia. Click here to schedule your specialized myopia evaluation.

Myopia is a refractive condition that causes poor long-distance vision. In myopic eyes, the eyeball is either longer than normal, or the cornea is too curved, causing objects far away to appear blurry.

Normal

Myopia

Myopia can cause painful symptoms, such as headaches, eye strain, and eye fatigue. Myopia also affects one’s daily activities and school performance, as it diminishes the ability to read and decipher distant objects.

The Progression of Myopia

It's estimated that one-third of the world's population is myopic, and the prevalence of myopia is on the rise. There are several possible reasons for the increase in myopia.

By the time they reach adolescence, 30% of children will be myopic.

Myopia Had Doubled

in U.S. children over the past 10 years

50% of the population

will be myopic by 2050

Increased visual demand from near-work activities (such as computer work, reading, and video games) causes additional eye strain. There’s also been a decline in time spent outdoors, where the eyes can normally relax

Myopia Risk Factors

Myopia typically develops in childhood and worsens over time. As the condition progresses, your child may start to complain of headaches or eyestrain.

2+ hours per day spent on “close work” (not including school work) can increase the risk of myopia.

There is a 25% chance a child will develop myopia if one parent is myopic and a 50% chance if both are myopic.

Less than 60-90 minutes per day spent outdoors in natural sunlight could contribute to myopia.

Specific binocular vision and focusing disorders increase the risk of myopia.

Myopia progresses faster at an early age, especially if a child is less than 9 years old.

Myopia can also cause difficulties with schoolwork or other activities that require good distance vision. In severe cases, myopia can lead to eye health problems, such as cataracts, maculopathy, glaucoma, or retinal detachment, all of which can lead to vision loss. Vision loss secondary to cataracts and retinal detachment may be reversible, but vision lost to maculopathy or glaucoma is not able to be recovered.

Myopia Management

Traditional eyeglasses and contact lenses help provide clear vision to those who are myopic but have no effect on its rate of progression. Slowing the progression requires specialized intervention.

There are several treatment options for myopia, including eye drops, specialty contact lenses, or glasses. With early diagnosis and treatment, most people with myopia can achieve good vision with a myopia management program.

Atropine eye drops - Atropine eye drops are similar to the eye drops doctors use to dilate your pupils during an exam, but in a much lower dose. Studies have shown low-dose atropine to be a safe and effective means of controlling myopia progression and it is generally well tolerated with little to no effect on light sensitivity or reading.

Multifocal contact lenses and glasses – These lenses contain special designs shown to slow the rate of progression of myopia. One of the lenses our office currently uses is the MiSight daily disposable lens, the only soft contact lens with FDA approval for myopia control in children.

Ortho-Keratology (“ortho-k”) – Ortho-K uses a unique gas-permeable contact lens that's worn overnight while sleeping. The hard lens gently reshapes your eye while you sleep. When you wake up and remove the lens, the eye retains its new shape during the day.

Myopia Questionnaire

Are you concerned about your child needing myopia management? Here are a few questions to ask yourself if you believe your child could benefit from a myopia management program:

1. Is your child myopic (Needs glasses or contact lenses to see clearly at a distance)? Onset of myopia at a younger age leads to higher risk of developing high myopia.
2. Is an immediate family member (father, mother, or sibling) myopic? (select YES even if that family member has had LASIK or another refractive surgery procedure for myopia) Research shows that the risk of myopia is greater if an immediate family member is myopic.
3. Does your child spend more than 2 hours/day (outside of school) doing near work (reading, using an electronic device and/or computer, etc.)? Myopic progression can be caused by extended amounts of near work.
4. Does your child spend less than 2 hours/day outdoors, including school recess/breaks? Increasingly, research suggests that spending time outdoors can help prevent development and progression of myopia.

If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, your child may be at risk of progressive myopia.

Schedule Myopia Evaluation

If you would like to receive a specialized myopia evaluation, please call us at or email at info@AdvancedFamilyVisionCare.com. Make sure to let our receptionist know that you are calling to schedule specialized myopia evaluation.

If you notice your child is having trouble seeing the blackboard at school or objects in the distance, contact us today to schedule an appointment. Our myopia management program is designed to slow down progression of myopia. Treating myopia as quickly as possible can help to reduce your child’s chances of developing a serious eye condition that can threaten their ability to see the world around them. We will work with you and your child to create a personalized treatment plan that meets their individual needs. Contact us today to learn more about our myopia management program.