Your children grow really fast, unfortunately so does their myopia.
Poor vision can have a significant impact in your child's life and development. Growing up with myopia and as parents, Dr. Somji and Dr. Sana know the effects myopia can have on children and learning. We are passionate about helping your family slow down the rate of progression of your child's myopia and prescription. If your child has myopia or you suspect you may have it book an appointment and speak with one of our myopia experts now.
What is myopia?
Myopia, otherwise known as nearsightedness, is a condition which causes objects to appear blurry at a distance, while generally closer objects are much clearer to see. Myopia occurs when the shape of the eye is essentially too long proportionally, so the distance between the cornea and the retina is further than it should be. This means when the light enters the eye, it is focused before it reaches the retina, which causes blurred vision. It can also be due to the shape of the cornea or the thickness of the lens inside the eye.
Myopia is one of the most common vision problems worldwide, affecting almost 30% of the American population, and its incidence is increasing rapidly.
What causes myopia?
The exact cause of myopia is not known, but it is believed to be a combination of genetic and environmental factors. Some of the factors that may contribute to myopia include:
More screen time
Less outdoor activities
Prolonged near work
Urbanization
Medical Factors
Genetics
Are members of your family myopic? If so, don't hesitate, schedule an appointment now.
How to spot the signs of myopia
- Headaches
- Tired eyes
- Regularly rubbing their eyes
- Needing to get close to screens
- Struggling to see distant objects
If your child is showing any of these symptoms, book an appointment now.
How myopia could affect your child
Myopia can have a significant impact on a child's daily life and their overall development
Learning
Myopia can make it difficult for a child to see the whiteboard or projector screen in a classroom, which can affect their ability to learn and take notes, which may lead to a reduced ability to perform well in school and a decreased overall academic performance.
Sports and physical activity
Myopia can make it difficult for a child to participate in sports and other physical activities that require good visual acuity, such as basketball, tennis, and soccer.
Outdoor activities
Children with myopia may avoid outdoor activities and spending time in nature, as they have difficulty seeing distant objects clearly. This can impact their overall health and well-being.
Socialization
Children with myopia may have trouble seeing their friends or participating in group activities, which can affect their socialization and self-esteem.
Safety
Myopia can make it difficult for a child to see hazards and obstacles in their environment.
Myopia management options for your child
There are several myopia management options for your child, and no one solution fits everyone. At Horizon Eye Care & Optical, we have been successfully reducing progression of myopia in children with Ortho-k for over a decade. Over the last several years, several other methods with soft contact lens treatments and atropine eye drops have been used with success. Sometimes none of these are required and a therapy eyeglass lens based on your child's binocular vision system is most effective. We'll talk about all of these options below.
Orthokeratology
- Retainer rigid lenses worn overnight
- Lens-free during the day with clear vision
- Ideal for active children participating in sports and activities, especially swimming
- Lens designs we specialize in: Wave NightLens, Paragon CRT, Euclid, Abiliti, BE Retainer
MiSight 1-day Soft Contact Lenses
- Daily disposable soft daytime lenses
- FDA approved for the use of myopia management
- A good option for active children
Myopia Control Glasses Lenses
Coming soon – not yet available in the United States
Atropine Therapy
- Specially compounded eye drops used to reduce the progression of myopia
- Used once daily under doctor instructions
- During atropine treatment, your child will have to continue to wear glasses
It's important to have regular eye exams to monitor the progression of myopia and ensure that your corrective lenses or treatment plan is up to date. In some cases, high levels of myopia can increase the risk of certain eye conditions, such as retinal detachment, glaucoma, and cataracts.
To discuss the best myopia management option for your child speak with one of our myopia experts
Lets fight myopia together
We're committed to help as many children as possible, but we need your help.
If you have a family member, friend or neighbor who may benefit from a myopia management consult or treatment, please share this page or refer them to our practice.
We believe that every children deserves the highest quality care, and we're committed to making sure that all of our patients receive the attention and support they need to reduce the progression of their myopia.
Schedule a Myopia Management Consult
If you're concerned about the progression of your child's myopia, please contact us today to schedule a myopia management consultation appointment. It's better to intervene early then wait until their vision is too far progressed where we may not have as many management options.
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