Myopia Management

Protecting Your Child’s Future Vision

Myopia, or nearsightedness, is becoming increasingly common, currently affecting about 30% of the population. It is estimated that by 2050, half of the world’s population will have myopia.

We are also seeing this condition begin earlier, often in children as young as age 6 or 7. This is more than just a need for stronger glasses; high myopia carries an increased risk of serious eye conditions later in life, such as retinal detachment and glaucoma.

Regular eye exams are the first step in safeguarding your child’s eye health and catching these changes as early as possible. With our diagnostic technology and the experience of Dr. Arora, we can monitor your child’s eyes for signs of myopia and recommend a management plan to preserve their vision and maintain their health.

Book your child’s appointment today.

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Understanding Progressive Myopia

When a child has myopia, the condition is typically “progressive,” meaning it continues to worsen throughout their school years. This happens because the eye is growing too long from front to back—a process called eye elongation.

The goal of myopia management is to slow down this elongation and stabilize their prescription at a lower level. If the eye doesn’t become too long, it helps preserve clearer vision and healthier eyes for their future.

Risk Factors: Screens, Sunshine, and Genetics

Several factors can influence the development of myopia in children. Genetics play a role, but lifestyle is also important. Outdoor play is a wonderful way to help prevent the onset of myopia, and research shows it may help slow it down once it has already begun.

On the other hand, excessive screen time and “near work” can contribute to both the development and the progression of the condition. We encourage a healthy balance; even for children without myopia, spending time outdoors is highly beneficial for their overall well-being and visual development.

Diagnosing and Monitoring Myopia with Technology

To enhance our standard of care, we use diagnostic technology like the Topcon MYAH biometer to monitor your child’s eye growth and changes over time. The Topcon MYAH captures images and measures your child’s eyes without touching them, making it a comfortable, simple process.

This allows us to precisely measure axial length. In simple terms, axial length is the measurement of the eye from the front to the back. By tracking this measurement over time, we can get an accurate picture of how quickly the myopia is progressing and how well our management plan is working.

Personalized Treatment Options for Myopia Management

Every child is unique, which is why we offer a variety of proven methods to help slow the progression of myopia. Our myopia management methods correct your child’s nearsightedness for clear vision while simultaneously signalling to the eye to stop its elongation.

The right choice depends on your child’s lifestyle, hobbies, and preferences. We determine the right path forward after a thorough evaluation and an in-depth discussion between you, your child, and our optometrist.

These are specially designed lenses that have a central vision area to correct nearsightedness and an outer treatment ring that slows myopia progression.

We carry MiYOSMART lenses from Hoya and Stellest lenses from Essilor.

These soft, daily disposable lenses are designed with comfort in mind. Created for children, they include multiple treatment zones that correct vision and slow myopia progression. Contact lenses can be a great option for active children and kids who are more self-conscious about wearing glasses.

We carry MiSight 1 day contacts by CooperVision and Abilit 1-Day contacts by Johnson & Johnson.

Ortho-k are custom-fitted contact lenses that are worn only while sleeping. They gently reshape the eye overnight, allowing for clear vision all day without glasses or contacts.

We use Paragon CRT lenses for ortho-k. These lenses also provide vision correction options for adults as an alternative to glasses or daytime contacts, although they are not considered to manage myopia for adults.

Prioritizing Your Child’s Long-Term Vision Care

Myopia management is about more than just seeing clearly today; it’s about protecting your child’s vision for a lifetime.

By proactively managing the progression of myopia now, we can reduce the risk of sight-threatening complications in adulthood. Regular eye exams are a crucial part of this journey, allowing us to adapt our care as your child grows.

We are here to provide a welcoming, supportive environment where your family feels confident in the health of your child’s eyes. Ready to take the next steps in your child’s eye care journey? Book an appointment with us today.

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