Myopia or nearsightedness is an eye condition that makes distant objects look blurry while close-up ones are clear. While this condition lacks a known cure, there are ways to manage it and slow its progression, especially in children. If you suspect your kid has myopia, our optometrist at Collins Eye Center can evaluate their situation and recommend a suitable method to delay its progression. Here are three methods an eye doctor may use to manage nearsightedness:
1. MiSight Lenses
Traditional contact lenses for nearsightedness only correct vision, helping individuals see better. MiSight lenses provide both vision correction and myopia control and are the first to be approved by the FDA for slowing myopia progression. These contact lenses have two parts: the central part and the peripheral part with specially designed rings. The central part works like regular corrective lenses to correct the refractive error and help the person get sharper vision. The peripheral part with rings helps focus more light on the retina, which slows eye elongation. Myopia occurs due to excessive eye elongation during growth and development.
MiSight lenses have several benefits that make them ideal for kids. They’re more comfortable than regular contacts and are easy to apply and remove. Since they’re daily disposable lenses, they don’t require cleaning maintenance. They’re also effective in slowing myopia and helping kids improve their quality of life. Our optometrist can conduct an eye exam and fit your child with suitable MiSight lenses.
2. Ortho-k Lenses
Orthokeratology or ortho-k lenses are contact lenses kids with myopia wear during the night and remove in the morning. They can then enjoy clearer and sharper vision throughout the day without requiring contact lenses or eyeglasses. Ortho-k lenses work by flattening the cornea. The cornea is your eye’s front part; if it’s too curved, you may experience nearsightedness. The excessive curve makes it challenging for light to focus on the retina, making distant objects blurry. When the cornea gets flattened gently and gradually by ortho-k lenses, light focuses better on the retina, and the child gets sharper vision over time. These lenses are gas-permeable, allowing oxygen into the eye to maintain proper health.
Our optometrist will first conduct an eye exam to determine your child’s eye health. They will then map the corneal surface using a topographer to determine the shape and size. The other step is designing customized ortho-k lenses. Since the cornea may regain its shape if you stop wearing these lenses, consistent wearing is recommended for long-term benefits.
3. Atropine Drops
Atropine is an anticholinergic and antimuscarinic agent that affects how nerves in the body interact. Eye doctors initially used atropine drops to dilate pupils and allow for deeper eye exams. They also used them to treat eye conditions like uveitis. It was then later discovered these drops could help slow down myopia progression by blocking the eye’s muscarinic receptors.
Muscarinic receptors control how the eye relaxes and contracts. Straining your vision worsens myopia, and by blocking the muscarinic receptors, the strain reduces. That helps slow down myopia progression. When combined with other myopia control methods like ortho-k, atropine drops can be more effective. Our optometrist can help determine if atropine drops suit your child and prescribe the right dosage.
Schedule an Appointment With Our Optometrist for Myopia Control
Children need proper vision for reading, writing, and other activities that contribute to their growth and development. If your child has been struggling with myopia, visit Collins Eye Center for an eye exam and recommendations for suitable myopia management methods. Our optometrist will recommend MiSight lenses, ortho-k lenses, or atropine drops, depending on the specific needs and preferences. Book your eye exam consultation today.
