Myopia Management for Kids

Myopia Management Starts with an Eye Exam

Regular comprehensive eye exams for your child at all stages of their development are extremely important to ensure a child’s vision will develop as it should and to diagnose any eye conditions that may be affecting your child.

One of the leading causes of ocular disease in adults is myopia. Myopia increases your risk for early cataracts, glaucoma, and retinal detachment, and this risk increases along with higher myopia. Modern science has found several ways to reduce the development of Myopia, thereby decreasing your child’s lifetime risk of eye disease.

Slow or Stop Myopia

While nearsightedness or myopia for many has been corrected through glasses or contact lenses, our preventative approach focuses on slowing or stopping the progression as your child grows. Myopia Management attempts to reduce the number of changes that may occur in your child’s vision as they grow. With a successful myopia control program, your eye doctor can provide your child with amazing vision, track your child’s rate of myopia, and provide a clear road to healthy eyesight and a successful future.

Myopia Management may include:

• Orthokeratology/Corneal Refractive Therapy: Custom hard contact lenses worn overnight, that gently reshape the cornea so the child can see during the day without glasses or contacts.
• Atropine Drops: Diluted dilation eyedrops given each night without significant side effects. Your child will still need to wear glasses or contacts during the day for clear vision.
• MiSight 1 Day Contact Lenses: daily disposable soft contact lenses developed for children
• Multifocal eyeglasses: When children are unable to use contact lenses or allow eyedrops, Bifocal or Progressive lenses can be used for myopia control. Other countries have approved Myopia Control Glasses, but they are not yet FDA approved in the USA.

Myopia Control Starts with You – The Parent

Your child’s eyes are his/her gateway into the world of learning. When your child’s vision is not functioning properly, learning and participation in recreational activities will suffer. Children are not likely to recognize vision problems like myopia. It is important for the parents and teachers to recognize signs of visual problems in their children, and have their eyes checked every year.