Myopia: What is it?
Myopia, also called nearsightedness or shortsightedness, is the eye condition where objects nearby or a short distance away are clear but objects that are far away are blurred. It is caused by the eye being slightly too long.
Your Child's Myopia May Depend on What You Do Now
Some children (and adult) eyes develop myopia and the percentage of people who develop it is increasing sharply. Myopia is getting worse around the world, even to the point of being called an epidemic by some. In some parts of Asia, 80% of the girls in high school are myopic. In the United States, myopia has increased 66% in thirty years so that now 42% of people aged 12-54 are myopic. It has become an issue of monumental importance affecting over a billion people around the world and it is getting worse.
Research is showing that that there are methods to slow or prevent the progression of myopia, but the actions work best when the child is younger. Myopic changes are generally permanent; they don't get better with treatment. Treatment should therefore be designed to prevent the development and progression and to do that requires eye examinations to start at a young age, approximately five years old for yearly exams. There are no guarantees that any specific treatment will work for an individual person but the lack of early care prevents any potential benefit from starting early.
Take Action Now
Our office provides options for slowing the progression, your Doctor will discuss which options may be suitable for your child.
Myopia, also called nearsightedness or shortsightedness, is the eye condition where objects nearby or a short distance away are clear but objects that are far away are blurred. It is caused by the eye being slightly too long.
Your Child's Myopia May Depend on What You Do Now
Some children (and adult) eyes develop myopia and the percentage of people who develop it is increasing sharply. Myopia is getting worse around the world, even to the point of being called an epidemic by some. In some parts of Asia, 80% of the girls in high school are myopic. In the United States, myopia has increased 66% in thirty years so that now 42% of people aged 12-54 are myopic. It has become an issue of monumental importance affecting over a billion people around the world and it is getting worse.
Research is showing that that there are methods to slow or prevent the progression of myopia, but the actions work best when the child is younger. Myopic changes are generally permanent; they don't get better with treatment. Treatment should therefore be designed to prevent the development and progression and to do that requires eye examinations to start at a young age, approximately five years old for yearly exams. There are no guarantees that any specific treatment will work for an individual person but the lack of early care prevents any potential benefit from starting early.
Take Action Now
Our office provides options for slowing the progression, your Doctor will discuss which options may be suitable for your child.
Currently there are 3 main treatment options for Management of progressive Myopia, these will be briefly presented here, and more thoroughly gone over during your consultation.
Orthokeratology: Research has shown success in slowing the progression of myopia utilizing a technique that uses Rigid Gas Permeable contact lenses. State of the art technology is used to design custom made contact lenses tailored to the eyes of your individual child. A topographic map of the cornea, or the front of your child’s eye, is used to design this lens. These specialty contact lenses are designed to sleep in, and gently re-shape the cornea overnight, leaving the child with clear vision without corrective lenses during the day. This treatment modality not only allows the child to not wear CL or glasses throughout the day, but has also been shown to slow the progression of myopia, leaving the child with a lower “end point” prescription.
Soft Multifocal Contact Lens: There are a new soft multi-focal contact lenses that have been proven to slow the progression of myopia in kids. These specially designed contact lenses relieve the mechanical strain the eye undergoes with near activity, while also providing an appropriate amount of peripheral retinal clarity to slow the growth factor signals. These lenses are fit in a way where distance vision is not compromised The doctor will assess the fit and the correct prescription to allow for clear and comfortable vision throughout the day, while simultaneously slowing the progression of myopia.
Atropine Therapy Atropine is a pharmacological agent in a drop form, which through a variety of pathways, has been shown to slow the progression of myopia. The drop is specially formulated using a compounding pharmacy to provide a very low strength so as to minimize side effects. The drop is placed in both eyes at bedtime every day. Minimal side effects may include slight blur with near work, light sensitivity and mild sting on instillation. Though the child will still need corrective lenses, this pharmacological agent should slow the progression so the end point prescription is reduced.
Research
1. Efficacy Comparison of 16 Interventions for Myopia Control in Children: A Network Meta-analysis.
2. The Safety of Soft Contact Lenses in Children.
3. The Safety of Orthokeratology--A Systematic Review.
4. Time spent in outdoor activities in relation to myopia prevention and control: a meta-analysis and systematic review.
2. The Safety of Soft Contact Lenses in Children.
3. The Safety of Orthokeratology--A Systematic Review.
4. Time spent in outdoor activities in relation to myopia prevention and control: a meta-analysis and systematic review.
