Myopia is more commonly referred to as nearsightedness, or the inability to see objects clearly at a distance. Myopia can worsen as your child's eyes continue to grow. The reason objects are blurry in the distance with nearsightedness is because the eye becomes longer as the child grows.

If your child has myopia (nearsightedness), you're probably wondering if there is something that can be done to slow its progression so your child doesn't need stronger glasses year after year. There's good news: A number of recent studies suggest it may indeed be possible to at least control myopia by slowing its progression during childhood and among teenagers.

Although an outright cure for nearsightedness has not been discovered, at The Eye Care Center we can now offer a number of treatments that may be able to slow the progression of myopia.

These treatments can induce changes in the structure and focusing of the eye to reduce stress and fatigue associated with the development and progression of nearsightedness.

Why should you be interested in myopia control? Because slowing the progression of myopia may keep your child from developing high levels of nearsightedness that require strong, corrective eyeglasses and have been associated with serious eye problems later in life, such as: early cataracts, retinal detachments, glaucoma and myopic maculopathy.

Myopia Management Options:

Orthokeratology 

Orthokeratology is the use of specially designed gas permeable contact lenses that are worn during sleep at night to temporarily correct nearsightedness and other vision problems so glasses and contact lenses aren't needed during waking hours. While seeing clearly without glasses or contacts lenses is one benefit of Ortho-K, the other benefit is the slowing of myopia progression.

 Evidence suggests nearsighted kids who undergo several years of orthokeratology will end up with less myopia as adults, compared with children who wear eyeglasses or regular contact lenses during the peak years for myopia progression. This would also lessen the risk of the eye diseases associated with high myopia stated above.

Mi-Sight Lenses

In spring 2020 Coopervision unveiled their new myopia management system named Mi-Sight. This myopia management treatment involves a specially designed soft contact lens that is proven to slow the progression of nearsightedness is children ages 8-12. These daily disposable lens are healthy, comfortable to wear, provide clear vision while wearing and also provide up to a 50% reduction in the progression of myopia in children ages 8-12. These lenses also lower the risk of the eye diseases associated with high myopia stated above.

Call us today to find out more information on these exciting developments in myopia management, or to schedule a consultation with one of our doctors.

Stellest Spectacle Lenses

Stellest lenses are a type of eyeglasses designed to correct myopia (nearsightedness) while also slowing its progression in children. They feature a central clear zone for sharp vision and a unique ring of over a thousand tiny, invisible lenslets that create a signal to slow eye elongation. Clinical studies show they can reduce myopia progression by an average of 67% or more with proper wearing time.