Myopia is the medical term for nearsightedness, and it’s a common vision problem in both adults and children. An optometrist can treat this condition in various ways, including through specialized lenses or eye drops. At Collins Eye Center, we offer custom treatment plans to help reduce myopic progression, beginning as early as age five. Here’s more information about myopia and how to manage it:

What Is Myopia?

If you can see nearby objects clearly but have trouble seeing items that are far away, you may have myopia. More than 40% of the U.S. population has this condition. Myopia occurs when the light entering your eyes doesn’t focus correctly. It can cause various symptoms, including headaches and squinting. Poor school performance or holding objects up close when looking at them may be additional signs of myopia in children.

Myopia often appears during childhood, and it can continue to worsen until the eye stops growing. If you develop myopia as an adult, it may be due to visual stress or underlying health problems, such as diabetes. This condition also has a genetic component. If you have myopia, one or both of your biological parents likely have it too. Certain lifestyle and environmental factors can also contribute, such as reading, looking at screens, and engaging in other near-vision tasks frequently.

How Is It Managed?

To diagnose and treat myopia, you’ll need to visit an optometrist. These eye professionals will perform a comprehensive eye exam to measure how light focuses on your retina. Once they confirm their diagnosis, they can prescribe corrective lenses to improve distance vision and discuss options for managing myopic progression. At Collins Eye Center, we offer three FDA-approved management options:

MISIGHT Lenses

MISIGHT lenses are soft, single-use lenses that are worn throughout the day and taken out before bed. They are designed to correct blurry distance vision, and they help lessen the progression of myopia in children. The lenses work by using a special dual-focus design that provides clear central vision while creating peripheral defocus. This defocus signal helps regulate eye growth and slow axial elongation, which is a possible contributor to worsening myopia.

These lenses provide a non-invasive, low-maintenance solution for managing myopia. Since they are only used once, they don’t require regular cleaning. These characteristics make them an ideal choice for young patients.

Orthokeratology

Orthokeratology involves wearing specially designed rigid contact lenses overnight. These lenses gently reshape the cornea while you sleep, allowing for clear vision during the day. They can help manage myopic progression and reduce the need for glasses or contact lenses.

Atropine Drops

Low-dose atropine eye drops are another effective tool for managing myopia. Applying the drops once daily, such as at bedtime, helps regulate the eye’s muscarinic receptors. These receptors are responsible for controlling how the eye contracts and relaxes. Excessive strain on the eye can worsen myopia, but by blocking these receptors, the drops may reduce that strain and slow down the condition’s progression. Used under the supervision of an optometrist, atropine drops provide a simple way to help prevent worsening nearsightedness.

Can Management Options Be Combined?

Myopia management options can be combined depending on your individual needs. Factors such as age, degree of myopia, lifestyle, and the rate of progression may all play a role in determining the most suitable approach. If recommended by an optometrist, a child may use low-dose atropine drops in combination with orthokeratology lenses for enhanced control. Your eye doctor will work with you to design a personalized treatment plan that has the most potential to slow myopia progression while maintaining clear, comfortable vision.

Ask Your Optometrist About Myopia Management

Managing myopia helps correct your vision and protect your long-term eye health. Early intervention may slow progression and reduce the risk of developing other conditions, such as cataracts and optic neuropathy, later in life. Contact the Collins Eye Center to meet with an optometrist and learn more about our myopia management options.