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Myopia Management

What is myopia?

Myopia (nearsightedness) means your child can see things up close clearly, but things farther away likely look blurry. Myopia occurs because the eyeball is growing too long.

What is myopia management?

Myopia management utilized specialized treatment options to slow down how quickly myopia progresses and reduce the amount of myopia your child may have in the future. Myopia management is about more than helping your child see clearly today. 

Why should we manage myopia?

Eyeglasses and contact lenses can help a child see better but it does not address the ocular health implications myopia can create. As the eye becomes more elongated, the child's risk of developing vision threatening conditions increase. These conditions include, but are not limited to:

  • retinal detachment

  • myopic macular degeneration

  • cataracts

  • glaucoma.

How is myopia controlled?

👓 Myopia-Control Spectacles

Specially designed spectacle lenses can correct blurry vision while also helping slow myopia progression. In the US, Essilor Stellest® lenses are FDA-approved for ages 6 – 12 years for initiating myopia control.

Regular single-vision glasses correct blurry vision but do NOT provide the same myopia-control effect.

 

👁️ Myopia-Control Contact Lenses

Specially designed soft contact lenses can correct vision while helping slow myopia progression.

 

Your doctor will determine whether your child is a good candidate for contact lenses and will provide training on proper insertion, removal, cleaning, and care.

 

👁️ Orthokeratology

Specialty overnight contact lenses which aid in corneal reshaping.

(Our office does not currently provide this service at this time. We hope to add it in the future.)

 

💧 Low-Dose Atropine

Low-concentration atropine eye drops may be prescribed to help slow myopia progression.