Myopia Management
Myopia, commonly known as nearsightedness, is becoming increasingly prevalent in our digital age. It is now considered a major health concern, having increased by 66% in the United States since 1971.
The eyes of a child with myopia become longer over time, which causes distance objects to appear blurry. And, if it’s not addressed, myopia often worsens as the child gets older.
What are the consequences of the eyes growing longer? If myopia goes undiagnosed and untreated, it can lead to various complications later in life including:
Earlier onset of cataracts
A 2 to 3 times higher chance of developing glaucoma.
Increased risk of retinal detachment.
An eye care professional can conduct a simple examination to determine whether your vision problems are due to myopia, and develop a treatment plan to help slow down the progression of myopia and prevent further complications related to this condition.
Common treatments include…
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Orthokeratology is a non-surgical treatment that uses customized contact lenses to temporarily reshape the cornea overnight. This reshaping allows your eyes to focus light more effectively on the retina, enhancing your vision. As a result, you can enjoy clearer vision during the day without the need for glasses or contact lenses. This therapy is ideal for individuals who wish to live without lenses during the day, find soft contacts uncomfortable, or are not suitable candidates for LASIK surgery.
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MiSight contact lenses are daily disposable soft lenses featuring a dual-focus design that corrects nearsightedness while also reducing the signals that cause the eye to grow longer. The central area of the lens corrects refractive errors, while the surrounding concentric rings help direct light to focus on the retina. Their daily disposable nature eliminates the need for regular cleaning, enhancing convenience. MiSight lenses offer comfort and are generally safe to use under the supervision of an eye care professional. Clinical studies indicate that MiSight lenses can reduce myopia progression by up to 59% compared to traditional single-vision lenses. Notably, MiSight lenses are the first contact lenses approved by the FDA, specifically indicated to slow myopia progression.
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Atropine is an eye drop that is used in low doses for the control of myopia. Atropine acts by temporarily reducing the eye's ability to focus on near objects. This can help reduce the strain on the eyes that contributes to worsening myopia. Some studies show that atropine may reduce the annual progression of myopia by 50% or more.
Different levels of myopia, as depicted by CooperVision’s myopia simulator.