Myopia Control
Does your child have trouble seeing far away? If so, this can lead to poor performance in school and less enjoyment playing sports or other activities. Treating this condition improves a child’s ability to learn and can enhance his/her self-esteem.
Myopia, also known as nearsightedness, occurs when the eye grows too long and too fast. It is often caused by:
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genetics (more likely if one or both parents are nearsighted)
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modern lifestyles
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insufficient time spent outdoors
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poor lighting levels
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prolonged time spent reading
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using digital devices such as smartphones and tablets
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The most common form of myopia starts at around school entrance age. Therefore, parents should begin having their child monitored for myopia as early as possible. The earlier myopia begins, the higher it is likely to be in adulthood, decreasing their candidacy for LASIK surgery yet increasing their risk to develop sight-threatening eye diseases later on in life. This may include retinal detachment, myopic macular degeneration, glaucoma, and cataracts.
The length of the eye should be measured regularly in children for early detection of myopia and in order to monitor its progression through early adulthood. Here, at Clarity Eye Care, we have an advanced measurement device that will measure the length of your child’s eyes quickly and seamlessly and project this measurement onto a graph to predict your child’s prescription progression into adult age if left untreated, based on data collected from over 20,000 children’s eyes.
Overnight contact lenses (also known as orthokeratology) are an innovative, FDA approved myopia management treatment option for nearsightedness that are specially designed custom contact lenses worn overnight to correct your vision while you sleep. The lenses gently and gradually reshape the front surface of the eye while asleep to temporarily eliminate or reduce nearsightedness and/or astigmatism. It is a safe and effective vision correction option for those who are active in sports or simply want clear natural vision all day without the need for daytime glasses or contact lenses.
Myopia management requires specialized clinical expertise and may include overnight contact lenses, atropine eye drops, multifocal soft contact lenses, special eyeglasses, or a combination of solutions. After a thorough analysis, Dr. Hoang will discuss the treatment option most suitable for your child to monitor and slow down the progression of myopia.
By 2050, it is estimated that half of the world’s population will develop nearsightedness. Take charge of your child’s myopia today. It could be the key to clear vision today, and better eye health tomorrow.