Myopia Management for Children
What is Myopia?
Myopia, commonly called nearsightedness, causes blurry long-distance vision. A person with myopia can see clearly up close, such as reading a book or looking at a phone, but words and objects look fuzzy on a blackboard, on television, or when driving. Myopia occurs when the eye grows too long.
Childhood onset myopia is most commonly caused by the eyes growing too quickly, or continuing to grow after age 10-12 when eye growth should normally cease. Genetics, environment, and individual characteristics can all contribute to this excess growth.
In younger children, myopia progresses more quickly because their eyes are growing at a faster rate, leading to higher levels of myopia, stronger glasses, and more eye health risks.
Why does Myopia matter?
Myopia is becoming more common in children around the world. The average age for developing myopia is also lowering – younger onset means faster and more eye growth, which increases the chances of high myopia and causes a higher risk of eye diseases such as: retinal detachments, myopic macular degeneration, glaucoma, and cataracts. Higher myopia also reduces quality of life and is more costly to correct with glasses or contact lenses.
What can be done?
Glasses are not enough: single vision glasses help a child to see distance more clearly but they do not treat or slow down the progression of myopia. There are several treatment options available (including custom contact lens designs and eye drops) which research has shown to slow or even stop the progression of myopia. Increasing time outdoors and limiting screen time can also be beneficial, but this is best before myopia even develops.
Schedule an appointment at our office and Dr. Willis will assess your child’s vision, determine their risk of progression of myopia, and develop a customized treatment plan to manage their myopia.