What is myopia?

Myopia = Nearsightedness

Whether or not your child complains of not being able to see objects at a distance—such as the board at the front of their classroom— they might have a condition called myopia. It’s more commonly known, though, as nearsightedness.

The eyes of a child with myopia become longer over time, which causes distant objects to appear blurry. And, if it’s not addressed, myopia often worsens as your child gets older.

Higher levels of myopia have a greater risk of serious medical complications over time, including increased risk for glaucoma, retinal detachment, earlier onset of cataracts, and myopic macular degeneration. Early intervention can reduce the progression of nearsightedness.

TREATMENTS FOR MYOPIA CONTROL

In Office:

Use of atropine drops

Fun fact: Atropine eye drops are actually one of the types of drops eye doctors may use for dilating patients’ eyes at an eye exam. But doctors have found that these drops can be given to children in much lower concentrations at bedtime to slow the progression of myopia.

Progressive soft contact lenses

MiSight® 1 day are soft contact lenses that have been FDA-approved for slowing the progression of myopia in children ages 8-12 at the initiation of treatment.±*1

Progressive spectacle lenses

Progressive addition and bifocal spectacle lenses can provide a useful myopia control effect, when correctly applied based on a child's binocular vision status.

Orthokeratology

Orthokeratology (or ortho-K) is another type of contact lens that can be used for myopia in kids. These lenses are very different in that they’re rigid gas-permeable contacts that are only worn at night to reshape the cornea during sleep. During the day, light passes through the reshaped cornea properly, making distant objects look clear.

At Home Interventions:

20/20/20 Rule

Using the 20-20-20 rule can help prevent eye strain when looking at screens. For every 20 minutes a person looks at a screen, they should look at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds. Following the rule is a great way to remember to take frequent breaks.

Frequent breaks

If a child spends excessive time in close-up activities—drawing, tablet use, reading—then your eye doctor will likely recommend taking regular breaks from these activities.

Time outdoors

Spending time outside is also important because sunlight can play a part in healthy eye growth. Studies have shown that spending more time outside is effective in reducing myopic progression.

Limit Your Screen Time

You can reduce your screen time by introducing regular breaks on work days and longer screen breaks on your days off. If you're working, set yourself an alarm roughly every 30 minutes to take a screen break. This means all screens; taking a break from your computer to look at your phone doesn't count.

King Vision Optometry Offers Expert Eye Care Services

The appropriate myopia control strategy for your child depends on the many factors. We work carefully with families to develop the best options for your child and options that will work with your family's busy schedule. Because there is an increased prevalence of dry eye in young people due to screen use, we leverage our Dry Eye Center of Excellence with its advanced resources to detect and address this potential problem before symptoms of contact lens intolerance interfere with efforts at myopia control. We take the time to understand your unique needs and preferences, and work with you to develop a customized treatment plan that meets your specific needs.

Picture giving a visual of treatment options for myopia control and management.