Myopia, commonly known as nearsightedness, is a growing concern for parents across the globe. Children are developing myopia at a higher rate than ever, but fortunately, there may be an answer: myopia control.
Through specialty lenses, you can slow how your child’s eye grows, preserving more of their vision. Myopia control lenses can come in eyeglass or contact lens forms, making them an excellent investment to improve their quality of life!
What is Myopia?
Myopia is an extremely common refractive error that develops when the eye grows longer than it is wide. This changes how light enters the eye and makes it focus at the wrong points, leading to blurry vision the further an object is from the eye. Due to this, myopia is commonly referred to as “nearsightedness.”
This condition usually begins in childhood and can progress rapidly if not managed properly. The eye continues changing until early adulthood, and vision usually worsens. However, it’s not just about eyesight—myopia alters the physical structure of the eye itself and increases the risk of conditions like glaucoma and retinal detachment.
Because of this, it’s crucial to intervene if you notice your child is showing signs of a vision problem. By catching the early signs of myopia—like constant squinting or headaches—you can help preserve your child’s vision through something called “myopia control.”
What is Myopia Control?
As your child develops, their eyes and vision will undergo plenty of different changes. This is natural; it’s just a part of growing up! However, myopia alters how their eyes develop over the years. This is where myopia control comes into play.
Myopia control refers to several strategies designed to intervene and slow how far the eye grows over time. While it can’t stop myopia entirely, it can significantly slow its progress to preserve more of your child’s future vision. Meanwhile, it also offers clear vision throughout the day to reduce myopia’s effect on their everyday life.
Think of it like a proactive approach; myopia control is like an investment into your child’s future well-being. It can reduce the risk of significant eye problems later in life as well, making it an excellent option for children living with myopia.
Myopia control is generally more effective when initiated early. Once the eye has fully developed, myopia control is no longer effective, so it’s recommended to begin this treatment sooner rather than later.
How Does Myopia Control Work?
There are several methods to control myopia, each with unique advantages and suitability depending on your child’s lifestyle. The most effective approach is through specialty lenses such as:
- Eyeglass lenses
- Contact lenses
- Orthokeratology
Eyeglass Lenses
Specialized eyeglass lenses are one of the most accessible and effective methods for myopia control. These are lenses designed to give your child clear vision while subtly sending signals to the eye to slow elongation.
To do this, these lenses incorporate multiple prescriptions into a single lens. While one prescription is designed to temporarily correct your child’s eyesight, the others send light rays to the periphery zones of the eye. This process, though simple, can slow myopia’s progression by almost 50%!
Myopia control eyeglass lenses offer a convenient and comfortable way to correct your child’s eyesight and preserve more of their vision, and they’re a popular choice for children who aren’t comfortable with contact lenses.
Specialty Contact Lenses
Specialty contact lenses are another highly effective option for myopia control. These lenses are specifically designed to manage how light focuses on the retina to slow down the elongation of the eye.
There are different types of specialty contact lenses available, each with a unique approach. However, they all follow a similar approach as eyeglass lenses; multiple prescriptions are built into a single lens to offer clear vision while slowing myopia progression.
These can be an excellent option for children who enjoy the comfort and convenience of contact lenses. Myopia control contacts can slow myopia by around 43% on average, making them an incredible option.
Orthokeratology
Orthokeratology, commonly referred to as ortho-k, is an innovative way to address myopia control. This is a non-invasive approach that involves the use of overnight contacts.
While your child sleeps, these contact lenses gently adjust the shape of their cornea. When they wake up, they remove the lenses, and your child can enjoy clear and comfortable vision throughout the day without relying on other corrective lenses.
However, to maintain the effectiveness of ortho-k, consistency is key. If your child stops using the lenses, their cornea reverts to its natural shape, and their vision troubles will return. Ortho-k can reduce myopia progression by about 50%, making it a popular approach to myopia control!
Contact Us to Learn More
Myopia control is a valuable investment in your child’s future eye health and vision. A proactive step today can give your child a brighter and clearer future, so come talk to our team at Eyesis Eyecare. We can work with you to find the right approach to myopia control, so book an appointment with our team today.
