Myopia Management

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What Is Myopia?

Myopia (or nearsightedness) is so common that nearly 50% of North Americans will have myopia by 2030. Myopia happens when the eye grows too fast, too long, and gets weaker. You may know it as blurry vision far away. At our practice, we specialize in pediatric eye care and treat myopia seriously.

Myopia can develop as young as age 3, and it often gets worse as children grow. Parents may not see signs that their child has myopia, such as squinting or having to sit up close to the television or computer screen to see clearly. Children often do not realize their vision is blurry.

The heavy use of digital devices is not going away and certainly is not helping things. It is important to have your child take breaks that are at least 5 minutes long, at least once an hour. Children should also spend at least 90 minutes outside a day.

The younger your child, the faster their myopia tends to progress. Early and regular pediatric eye exams are essential for detecting myopia as soon as possible. Treating it early can help slow its progression and reduce the risk of serious eye health issues later in life.
 

Myopia Can Affect More Than Just Your Eyes

Myopia can affect your child’s ability to perform well in school, sports, performing arts, and other activities that require clear vision. Controlling myopia progression will free them up to be at their best.

If you believe that your child may have myopia, contact our office to schedule a pediatric eye exam - this is the best first step to take.

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Be Apart of our Myopia Management Program

Has your child had their eyes checked with Dr. Wu yet?  Myopia prevention starts first with annual comprehensive eye examinations. Once any nearsighted prescription is noted, or possibly predicted in the future, our office can offer options to help control and prevent myopia progression.

Consider joining our myopia management program.  This program is not covered by insurance and is a year to year personalized therapy and treatment plan including all follow up visits in-office to monitor and manage myopia progression.  

Current treatment therapy options (some patients may require dual therapy):

1. Orthokeratology - This type of therapy uses custom contact lenses to only be worn overnight.  These special lenses temporarily reshape the cornea while a patient is sleeping. Upon removal of the lenses in the morning, nearsightedness is corrected, delivering clear vision all day long. This is a great option for those who want the freedom from daytime glasses and contact lenses, and especially those with active lifestyles. These lenses must be worn each night to maintain clear vision. 

2.Stellest Lenses – The Stellest lens is a new FDA-approved lens designed for full-time wear to slow myopia progression in children aged 6 to 16 years old.

3. MiSight – This is the first FDA-approved soft contact lens with a mid peripheral treatment zone to aid in preventing myopia progression. These lenses are daily disposables for easy use and handling.

4. Low-Dose Atropine Eyedrops  –  These drops are instilled each night to help slow the growth of the eye. Side effects may include mild dilation of the pupils and a temporary reduction in the eye’s focusing ability.

5. Soft Multifocal/Toric Contact Lenses – Working similarly to progressive lenses, but without FDA approval for myopia control (so for off label use), soft multifocal/toric contact lenses can also prevent eye strain at near and possibly control myopia progression.

Schedule Your Child’s Eye Exam Today

If you notice that your child is having a difficult time seeing objects that are far away, contact us to schedule an appointment. 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. Call today and schedule a pediatric eye exam to discover how we can help your child.