Myopia Control

Proactive Care for Your Child’s Nearsightedness

Myopia, or nearsightedness, is a vision condition that causes faraway objects to appear blurry. Children can develop myopia as early as age 6, and it tends to worsen as their eyes grow. Myopia typically stabilizes once kids reach adulthood, but blurry vision is just one of the potential issues caused by myopia.

Myopia can progress rapidly and elevate the risk of eye diseases in adulthood. But managing myopia in childhood can help lower risks and benefit your child’s long-term eye health.

Book your child’s eye exam today.

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What Is Myopia?

Myopia occurs when the eyeball is too long or the cornea has too much curvature. As a result, vision is blurry because light focuses in front instead of directly on the retina (light-detecting tissue at the back of the eye).

People can experience headaches or eye strain from squinting and straining to see distant objects clearly.

Why Should Myopia Be Controlled?

Myopia ranges from low to high.

People with low myopia have a lower risk of future eye problems and may only require corrective lenses for specific tasks, such as watching movies or driving.

However, people with moderate to high myopia have a greater risk of developing sight-threatening eye conditions like glaucoma, retinal detachment, cataracts, and macular degeneration. They may also require corrective lenses all the time, from crossing the street to seeing faces across a room.

Early and ongoing treatment can help prevent the serious eye problems associated with myopia progression.

How Can We Control Myopia?

Early intervention can make a world of difference. That’s why regular eye exams are crucial for kids. These checkups allow us to evaluate their eyes, detect changes, and monitor their progress over time.

Even if a child is hyperopic (farsighted) or has clear eyesight initially, their vision can start to deteriorate with a sudden eye growth spurt. You may notice them fall behind in class or begin to bump into things frequently. They may feel left out of sports.

The good news is that we can conduct a comprehensive evaluation to assess these symptoms and provide your child with the care they need.

Ortho-K

Orthokeratology, or ortho-k, is a specialty contact lens designed to help correct myopia. The customized design can help slow myopia progression in kids, and both kids and adults can benefit from the freedom of not needing contacts or prescription glasses during the day.

The rigid lens is worn while sleeping and gently, temporarily reshapes the eye’s curvature. When the lenses are removed in the morning, the improved curvature allows for clearer vision. The reshaped cornea’s benefits include reduced myopia progression by preventing eye growth triggered by inaccurately focused peripheral light.

MiSight

MiSight 1-day are FDA-approved soft contact lenses designed for myopia control in kids 8–12. The multifocal lenses offer a dual solution to myopia progression: correcting blurry vision and slowing eye growth by refocusing peripheral light.

Many kids find the lenses comfortable and easy to insert and remove. What’s more, the lenses are disposable, which can make them easier to maintain without the need for special care or cleaning.

For kids who find wearing glasses unappealing or rigid ortho-k lenses uncomfortable, MiSight can offer a clear alternative.

Atropine Eye Drops

Low-dose atropine eye drops have been found to be effective in controlling myopia in children. The drops work by dilating the pupil and stopping the eye’s focusing mechanism, allowing the eye to rest instead of working tirelessly to compensate for blurry distance vision.

Kids receiving atropine treatment may still need glasses or contact lenses, but the treatment can help prevent myopia progression and promote healthier vision long-term.

Together, We Can Protect Your Child’s Sight

At Gordon Eye, we prioritize proactive eye care. Your child’s vision plays an important role in their quality of life, and we’re here to help.

Myopia control is designed to provide comprehensive support for your child’s eyes. By taking preventive measures during the crucial growth years, your child can avoid the rapid progression of myopia and enjoy a lifetime of clearer, more comfortable vision.

We can work with you and your child to find a personalized approach that seamlessly fits into your child’s lifestyle and comfort level. Book your child’s eye exam today.

Where to Find Us

We are conveniently located off Massachusetts Ave, just a short walk east from the Minuteman Statue. Look for our shared entrance with Gordon Optical.