How to Slow the Progression of Myopia in Children

Myopia, or nearsightedness, is a common vision disorder that is unfortunately on the rise, particularly among children. The good news is recent studies have revealed that myopia progression can be slowed down with the right treatment. Today, local eye doctor Six One Six Vision Center shares insight on myopia control for children.

Myopia Control / Myopia Management

Myopia involves the lengthening of the eyeball, which affects the way light is transmitted inside the eye. Wearing eyeglasses or contact lenses are two effective methods for correcting myopia, but these options don’t do anything to actually treat the condition. Without myopia control, also known as myopia management, a person with progressive myopia will continually need to update their eyewear prescriptions throughout their life.

Myopia control takes a preventive route through treatments that help slow down the lengthening of the eyeball. These treatments are more effective on children and teenagers, as their eyes are not fully developed yet. Myopia control helps keep eyewear prescriptions stable. Children can also benefit from reduced risks of cataracts, glaucoma, retinal detachment and macular degeneration.

Types of Myopia Control

Treatment methods for myopia in children include:

1. Orthokeratology (Ortho-K) / Corneal Refractive Therapy (CRT) Lenses — This non-invasive therapy involves the use of special contact lenses FDA-approved to be worn during sleep. Ortho-k contact lenses help reshape the cornea in such a way that after wearing them overnight, you can see clearly without wearing daytime contact lenses or eyeglasses all day long.
2. Low-Dose Atropine Drops — Low-dose atropine drops are eye drops that are used before bedtime that have been shown in studies to reduce the progression of nearsightedness. While regular atropine drops dilate the pupils, these drops are at such a low concentration, they do not show the same side effects.
3. MiSight Contact Lenses — The FDA has recently approved MiSight for myopia treatment in children. These single-use contact lenses are designed for use on children between the ages of 8-12 years old. Unlike ortho-k contacts, MiSight contacts are designed to be worn during the day and removed at night.

Your local optometrist and eye care specialist Six One Six Vision Center can provide more information on myopia treatment. Give us a call at (208) 514-1858 or fill out our contact form. We serve customers in Eagle, Boise, Star, and Meridian, ID.