Myopia Control
Myopia is a growing problem in the population, and when a child is diagnosed with myopia and it continues to worsen or progress year after year, it can put that child at greater risk to develop serious eye diseases later in life.
What is Myopia?
Myopia, also known as nearsightedness, is a common condition in which people have trouble seeing something in the distance but can still generally see objects up close clearly. Someone with myopia may struggle to decipher writing across the room or details from afar.
What Causes Myopia?
Myopia is the result of the eyeball being too long or the cornea being too curved, and it typically begins in childhood. According to the American Optometric Association, myopia affects nearly 30% of the U.S. population. 1 If you have myopia, it is likely that one or both of your parents did, too. While the exact cause of myopia is unknown, in addition to family history, environmental factors or other health problems can be factors in the development and progression of myopia.
There are three levels of myopia: mild, moderate, and high. When a child is diagnosed with myopia and the prescription needed to enable them to see clearly gets worse every year, that means their myopia is progressing from mild to higher levels.
When progressive myopia occurs, it can cause eye strain, headaches, and fatigue after looking at objects in the distance for an extended period. Children with progressive myopia are also at a higher risk of developing eye health problems later in life such as retinal detachment, glaucoma, cataracts, or macular degeneration.
Because progressive myopia can have such a negative impact on a person’s eye health, it is important to get regular eye exams that screen for these conditions. If your doctor diagnoses myopia at an earlier stage, they can create a myopia management plan that may help your child avoid some eye health problems later in life.
What are the Symptoms of Myopia?
People who are nearsighted will notice that objects in the distance look blurry or fuzzy, while objects up close look clear. They may experience headaches, fatigue, and eye strain.
Children with myopia will hold objects closer to their face, may close one eye while reading, complain about having headaches, rub their eyes, and squint when trying to see. If you notice your child exhibiting these symptoms, you should schedule an appointment for a comprehensive eye exam to have them checked for myopia.
What is Myopia Control?
At Ensight Eyecare, Dr. James Barton may prescribe special contact lenses, eyeglasses, or prescription eye drops to slow down the progression of myopia, based on the needs of the individual. The goal of myopia control is to slow down or stop the myopia from getting any worse.
We utilize NaturalVue contact lenses as part of our approach to controlling the progression of myopia. Learn more about NaturalVue.
Myopia Control Treatment at Ensight Eyecare
If you suspect your child may have myopia, don’t delay. Schedule an appointment for a comprehensive eye exam, where we detect and determine the appropriate treatment for myopia.