Myopia Management for Pediatric Patients in Richardson
Does Your Child Need Myopia Management?
Is your child struggling to see the board at school? Do they squint their eyes while watching TV? Or maybe they complain of headaches after screen time?
All of these may be signs of nearsightedness (myopia), the most common eye disease amongst children. Myopia is a disease where objects nearby are clear but objects far away appear blurry. Myopia typically occurs because the eyeball grows too long during childhood. Myopia rates amongst children are growing dramatically due to a lack of outdoor time and potentially more near work like reading and device use.
That’s why early detection and intervention are crucial. Myopia management can help slow the progression of nearsightedness and protect your child’s vision for the future.
WHAT IS MYOPIA MANAGEMENT?
Myopia management, also referred to as myopia control, is the use of specific treatments to slow the progression of nearsightedness in children. Untreated, myopia in children usually progresses and their vision gets worse throughout childhood. Myopia management also helps reduce the risk of vision-threatening diseases associated with high myopia later in life — including glaucoma, cataracts, and retinal disease.
Why Perception Eyecare + Eyewear for Your Child’s Myopia Care?
At Perception Eyecare + Eyewear, we understand the concerns parents have when it comes to their child’s vision and eye health. That’s why we’ve partnered with Treehouse Eyes, the leading provider of myopia treatment in the country. This partnership allows us to offer the most advanced treatment options and proven techniques to help slow the progression of nearsightedness in your child.
Our comprehensive myopia management services help to:
- Slow myopia progression: Left untreated, myopia can worsen over time. Myopia management can help slow this progression, protecting your child’s vision for the future.
- Reduce the risk of eye problems: Untreated high myopia can increase the risk of serious eye diseases later in life. Myopia management helps reduce this risk.
- Improve your child’s quality of life: Clear vision is essential for learning, playing sports, and enjoying everyday activities. Myopia management can help ensure your child experiences the world clearly.
Our practice has the diagnostic equipment, clinical expertise, and experience in working with children to successfully treat myopia, with personalized treatment plans for each child.
Ready to see if your myopia management is right for your child? Schedule a Complimentary Virtual Myopia Assessment or call 714-710-1601.
WHY ARE MORE PARENTS HAVING THEIR CHILDREN UNDERGO MYOPIA MANAGEMENT?
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), myopia (nearsightedness) is growing at an alarming rate. In the past 20 years, the number of people with myopia has nearly doubled, and is expected to affect 50% of the world’s population by 2050.
Besides the loss of far vision from myopia, there are increased eye health risks as a result of having elongated eyeballs. When the eye continues to grow at a faster than normal rate, it leads to greater stretching/thinning and consequently greater risk for sight threatening eye diseases later in life.
How we treat myopia
If left untreated, myopia puts children at a higher risk for serious eye diseases such as retinal detachment, cataracts, glaucoma, and macular degeneration. Our non-invasive treatments include:
- Prescription eye drops formulated to a specific concentration known to reduce the progression of myopia.
- MiSight® 1 day soft contact lenses that have a special optical design to reduce the progression of myopia while providing clear vision during the day.
- Orthokeratology (Ortho-K) overnight contact lenses that gently and comfortably reshape the front surface of the eye during the night, with an effect that lasts all day.
SPECIALIZED SOFT CONTACT LENSES
There are currently three brands of contact lenses are are being used to slow myopia progression. The brand of contact lenses used will be determined by the patient’s eyes and prescriptions. All contact lenses are FDA approved but there is only one that are specifically approved for the slowing of myopia progression, Mi Sight 1-Day contact lenses by Cooper Vision.
Mi Sight contact lenses are soft, dual-focus contact lenses worn during the day and are designed to redirect how the light hits the retina, which “tricks” the eye into not growing too long.
Low Dose Atropine Eye Drops
Atropine is an eye drop that makes the pupils larger, causing light sensitivity and blurred near vision. However, low concentration of atropine (0.01 to 0.05%) has been shown to significantly slow the progression of nearsightedness without dramatically increasing pupil size or decreasing near vision. Drops are to be instilled every day for maximum effects.
SEE IT TO BELIEVE IT!
Frequently Asked Questions Regarding Myopia Management
Why is my child myopic?
There are two main causes of myopia:
- Hereditary – If one or both parents are myopic (nearsighted), there is a greater risk that their kids will be nearsighted too.
- Environmental – Children who spend a lot of time performing near activities (reading, using hand-held electronics, etc) have a greater risk of becoming nearsighted. Research shows spending more time outside lowers the risk of childhood myopia.
Why are more children being diagnosed with myopia?
More people are becoming myopic. In the early 1970s, only 25% of Americans were nearsighted. Today, the prevalence of myopia has increased to over 42%. And in some Asian countries, up to 80% of the population is myopic. Lifestyle changes resulting in children spending less time outdoors, and more near work, is driving myopia to epidemic levels.
Why is myopia in children a concern?
Vision – untreated, myopia in children usually progresses meaning their vision gets worse every year. This can impact activities, social life, and academic performance
Disease risk – higher levels of myopia increase the lifetime risk of serious eye diseases such as glaucoma and retinal diseases
Can you slow the progression of myopia in kids?
YES! In expert hands, myopia treatment can slow down or even stop their eyes from becoming more myopic (nearsighted). Stronger glasses each year should not be normal. There is no cure, but you can most likely improve how your eyes are changing. Currently, our office focuses on 3 myopia treatments: prescription eye drops, daytime contact lenses, and overnight contact lenses.
What myopia treatment options are available for my child?
- Prescription Eye Drops – For some children, the use of a prescription eye drop may be the best treatment for managing myopia. Drops are typically applied at night before bed, and can be a good option for children not yet ready for a contact lens option.
- Multifocal Contact Lenses – These specially designed contact lenses have multiple focal points, and have been proven to dramatically slow the progression of myopia in most children. They are worn during the day so also provide clear vision without wearing glasses. There are FDA-approved options such as MiSight® 1 day myopia control soft contact lenses.
- Orthokeratology (Ortho-K) for Myopia Control – Orthokeratology, or Ortho-K, is a non-surgical treatment option for children with myopia. This treatment involves wearing special contact lenses overnight that reshape the cornea, allowing your child to experience clear vision during the day without the need for glasses or contacts. One of the most compelling reasons parents choose Ortho-K for their children is its ability to slow the progression of myopia. As a non-invasive treatment, Ortho-K provides both convenience and effectiveness in managing myopia in children.