What is Myopia?
Myopia is also known as nearsightedness. This means that items up close are clear, but the distance vision in blurry. Myopia among young children is growing at an alarming rate, with 1 in 3 children in the United States are now myopic.
Studies have shown that the increase in near activities and tasks, like iPhone, iPads, Xbox, video games, reading and computer-based learning, in combination with a reduction in the amount of time spent outdoors, is contributing to the rapid increase in childhood myopia.
While prescription glasses and contact lenses can correct for a child’s blurry vision, they don’t stop your child’s prescription from increase and your child’s vision from progressing.
What can myopia cause?
Studies have shown that an increase in myopia is due to an increase in the axial length of the physical eye. That means the more nearsighted a child is, the longer than anatomical eyeball is becoming. Scientific evidence has shown that this increase in axial length results in a higher risk of certain ocular disease, most of which are sight-threatening.
In fact, myopia is the sixth leading cause of blindness. Patients with low myopia (less than -2.00D) have a three-fold increase in the risk of retinal detachment. For those with moderate to severe myopia (more than -8.00D), the risk increases 44.2 times. Other ocular complications that are associated with myopia include glaucoma, cataracts and macular degeneration.
How can we stop the progression of Myopia?
Myopia can be managed!
It is crucial for parents of myopic children to manage this condition as part of your child’s eye health just as you would any other systemic conditions.
The goal of myopia management is to slow the progression of myopia and reduce its impact on your child’s life. The younger myopia management begins, the more effective the treatment.
At Advanced Optometry, we have numerous treatment options to prevent the progression of myopia for your child. From specialty glasses and contact lenses to overnight lenses which not only prevent the progression of myopia, but also allows your child to be contact and glasses free during the day, there is a treatment for every child.
All treatments are designed to treat your child’s myopia and significantly reduce the threat of more serious eye diseases.
Schedule an appointment today and one of our doctors will evaluate your child’s vision and make a customized treatment plan to slow or even stop myopia from progressing.
Please reach us at (949) 770-8505 to schedule your myopia management appointment.
