Get Myopia Solutions at Eye Design, MD
Myopia, or nearsightedness, is a common eye problem that affects many people globally. While glasses or contacts can fix it, myopia is more than blurry vision. If not managed, it can lead to serious eye issues later on. Thankfully, there are ways to slow its progression in kids and teens.
What is Myopia and What Causes It?
Myopia is a refractive error that causes you to see close objects clearly while distant objects appear blurry. Myopia is triggered by the eyeball growing too long or the cornea being too curved. This elongation of the eye causes light entering the eye to focus in front of the retina instead of directly on it, leading to blurred distance vision.
The exact cause of myopia is multifactorial, with both genetic and environmental factors playing a significant role. If one or both parents have myopia, their children are more likely to develop it. However, environmental factors, such as excessive near work (e.g., reading, using digital devices) and limited outdoor time, have also been linked to myopia development and progression in children.
Dangers of Myopia Progression, Especially in Children
Myopia tends to worsen as children grow, leading to ever-increasing prescription strengths. High myopia, a severe form of nearsightedness, is associated with a higher risk of vision-threatening eye conditions, including retinal detachment, glaucoma, cataracts, and macular degeneration.
What is Myopia Management?
Myopia management comprises a set of strategies and treatments aimed at slowing down the progression of myopia, particularly in children and young adults whose myopia is yet to stabilize. The primary goal is to reduce the risk of developing high myopia and its associated vision-threatening complications. This proactive approach combines optical, pharmacological, and lifestyle interventions.
Types of Myopia Management
At Eye Design in Clinton, we offer a variety of myopia management techniques that are proven to address myopia progression effectively. These strategies are:
- Orthokeratology (Ortho-k): Ortho-k involves wearing specially designed rigid gas-permeable contact lenses overnight to reshape the cornea temporarily. This non-surgical approach offers clear daytime vision without eyeglasses or regular contact lenses. While ortho-k lenses are an effective myopia management option for children and teenagers, adults can also benefit.
- Multifocal Contact Lenses: These lenses have multiple prescription zones, which reduces eye strain that causes the eyeball to become elongated.
- Atropine Eye Drops: Low-dose atropine eye drops work by easing the eye's focusing stress, which can help reduce strain caused by close-up tasks. While atropine can effectively slow down myopia progression, it requires careful monitoring by an eye doctor.
- Lifestyle Modifications: Encouraging outdoor activities and minimizing excessive screen time can mitigate environmental factors contributing to myopia progression.
- Customized Myopia Management Plans: Our optometrist evaluates specific factors, including age, degree of myopia, lifestyle, and other individual considerations, to create tailored plans that optimize the benefits of myopia management.
How Myopia Management is Beneficial
The benefits of myopia management extend far beyond simply reducing the need for stronger eyeglasses or contact lenses. Here are some key advantages:
- Reduced Risk of Eye Diseases: Slowing myopia progression lowers the risk of vision-threatening eye conditions, such as retinal detachment, glaucoma, cataracts, and macular degeneration.
- Stable Vision: Children and adolescents undergoing myopia management experience more stable vision, reducing the frequent changes in prescription strength.
- Enhanced Quality of Life: Myopia management can improve overall quality of life by minimizing the impact of myopia on daily activities and reducing the inconvenience of constantly changing prescriptions.
- Independence from Glasses or Contacts: Some myopia management methods, like ortho-k, can reduce the need for daytime eyeglasses or contact lenses, offering clear vision without the hassle.
- Long-Term Eye Health: Investing in myopia management at a young age sets the foundation for lifelong eye health, reducing the risk of vision loss in later years.
- Great Alternative to LASIK: Myopia control techniques such as ortho-k offer a safer, non-surgical way to correct vision for children and adults who do not qualify for LASIK.