Understanding Myopia and Myopia Management
What is Myopia?
Myopia, or nearsightedness, is a common vision condition where distant objects appear blurry while close-up objects remain clear. This occurs when the eyeball grows too long or the cornea has too much curvature, causing light to focus in front of the retina instead of directly on it. Myopia often develops in childhood and tends to progress as the eyes grow.
Signs and Symptoms of Myopia:
Blurred vision when looking at distant objects
Squinting or eye strain
Difficulty seeing the whiteboard or road signs
Frequent headaches due to eye strain
What Causes Myopia?
Myopia can be influenced by:
Myopia commonly develops between ages 6–12, typically stabilizing when axial (lengthwise) eye growth slows by age 20.
While genetics play a role, studies also suggest that lifestyle factors have contributed significantly to the rising prevalence of nearsightedness, such as prolonged periods of close-work tasks, including reading, studying, and screen time.
Normal vision
Myopic vision
Corrected vision with lenses
How Can Myopia Progression Affect Your Child’s Eyes?
Almost 50% of the world’s population is expected to have myopia by 2050. In East and Southeast Asian countries, the prevalence is already at 80–90% (among children with 12 years of school).
But it’s not just about blurry vision. Myopia can increase the risk of severe vision impairment from retinal detachment, glaucoma, macular degeneration, and the early development of cataracts.
Fortunately, it’s manageable with appropriate intervention. We can help safeguard your child’s eye health and prevent an increasing dependence on eyeglasses or contact lenses.
Proactive & Preventive Methods
Managing myopia is both proactive and preventative.
Regular eye exams are crucial for the early detection of myopia development, allowing us to take appropriate measures to slow its progression. For those kids already wearing glasses, myopia management can prevent a steep increase in their prescription and protect against serious eye conditions in the future.
At any stage of eye development, we can customize a plan for their unique visual comfort and health. Our tailored prescription treatments and practical lifestyle tips can help keep your child’s eyes healthy and vision clear.
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Orthokeratology (ortho-k), a type of corneal refractive therapy (CRT), is a method of corneal reshaping. Similar to how dental braces improve the alignment of teeth, ortho-k lenses reshape the eye’s surface (cornea). The lenses are worn overnight, gently improving the cornea so light can focus correctly inside the eye. Then, the lenses are removed in the morning, allowing for clear vision without glasses.
We use ortho-k lenses from Paragon Vision Sciences, Moonlens, Euclid, and Global OK-Vision (GOV).
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Atropine is widely used in eye exams to dilate (open) pupils, allowing optometrists to examine the inner eye tissue closely. Low-dose atropine (0.01-0.05%) also offers an effective method for managing myopia. By relaxing the eye’s focusing mechanism, atropine helps the eye rest instead of straining to focus on distant blurry objects.
The eye drops are administered before sleep to make the experience more comfortable for kids, as the enlarged pupil can temporarily cause light sensitivity and blurry vision.
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Traditional or single-vision prescription glasses and contact lenses improve blurry vision but don’t treat the underlying problem. Multifocal contact lenses combine 2 focusing powers to correct nearsightedness and slow eye growth by refocusing peripheral light.
The soft, disposable lenses can be comfortable and easy to manage for kids as young as age 6.
We use Mi-Sight and NaturalVue in the office when indicated.
Why Choose Us for Myopia Management?
At our office in Mineola, NY, we’re committed to helping you or your child achieve clear, healthy vision for life. We use the latest evidence-based treatments to manage myopia effectively, tailoring each plan to individual needs.
Take control of myopia today—schedule an appointment to learn how we can help manage and protect your vision for the future.
Call us or book your appointment online to start your myopia management journey. Let’s keep your eyes healthy and your vision sharp!