Myopia Management

Myopia is a very common issue throughout the world. Approximately 1/3 of the population in the United States have the condition and over 90% of several East Asian countries suffer from myopia. While myopia may seem like such a common condition that it shouldn’t be cause for concern, it is actually associated with several very serious conditions that can threaten one’s ability to see.

What is Myopia

Myopia, more commonly known as nearsightedness, is a condition where individuals are able to see objects that are close to them but may have difficulty distinguishing things at a distance, such as road signs or leaves on a tree. These individuals often squint at objects that are further away to try and help bring them into focus.

Currently, there is no known cure for myopia and recent studies suggest that the more advanced your myopia gets, the more serious the effects can be on your vision. This has led eye professionals to look for ways to slow the progression of myopia in children and young adults as the eyes typically change more rapidly during this time and slowing down myopia progression during these years has a huge payoff. New treatments called myopia management or myopia control have been developed to slow the progression of myopia in children.

Types of Myopia Control

There are a few different treatments for myopia that have proven to be effective in a number of studies. Of course, to ensure you find the most effective choice for you, be sure to visit with your eye doctor so they can review your case and recommend the best options for you.

Ortho-K | Ortho-K or Orthokeratology is one practice being used to slow down the progression of myopia. Ortho-K utilizes a special rigid gas-permeable contact lens that is inserted into the eyes just before you go to bed. This hard lens helps to gently hold your eye in the proper shape throughout the night. Then when you wake up in the morning and remove the lenses, your eye continues to maintain that shape. This means that people who are nearsighted can see clearly throughout the day, even without wearing contact lenses or glasses. This approach is often preferred for athletes or other active individuals.

Atropine Eye Drops | Atropine is used as an off-label treatment for myopia. Atropine in the past was used for the treatment of amblyopia (lazy eye), but when used for myopia the concentration of atropine is a much lower percentage. This eye drop temporarily blocks the accommodation reflex of the eye and dilates the pupils slightly. Atropien is the simplest form of myopia management as you just instill one drop in each eye before bed.

Peripheral Defocus Soft Contact Lenses | This type of soft contact lens creates an area of defocus in the mid periphery of the eye. This is very similar to the effect of a multifocal contact lens and can slow the progression of myopia. These contact lenses are available in a daily disposable lens or monthly replacement lens. One of these contact lenses is called MiSight and is currently the only FDA approved treatment for myopia management. Learn more about MiSight at misight.com.

Overview

If you notice that your child is having a difficult time seeing objects that are far away, contact us today to schedule an appointment. Many parents notice changes in their children with their behavior or grades at school, their ability to play sports, or that they may even be pulling back from playing with friends. 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 an appointment to see how we can help your child.

Why do we Want to Keep Myopia Low?

1. The higher the myopia is, the lower the quality of vision when we are not wearing our glasses or contact lenses.

2. The higher the myopia is, the higher the likelihood of developing vision threatening conditions in the future. These conditions include glaucoma, cataracts, and retinal detachments. Patients with mild myopia have a four-fold increase in the risk of retinal detachment. For those with moderate to severe myopia, the risk increases ten times.

3. The higher the myopia is, there is less of a chance the patient will be a good candidate for LASIK in the future.