Understanding Your Myopia

Myopia, commonly known as nearsightedness, is more than just a need for glasses to see the whiteboard. It occurs when a child’s eye grows slightly too long from front to back, causing light to focus incorrectly and making distant objects look blurry. Because children’s eyes grow as they do, myopia typically progresses and worsens throughout their school years. This is a concern because higher levels of myopia are linked to an increased risk of serious eye health issues later in life, such as retinal detachment, glaucoma, and early cataracts. Fortunately, years of clinical research have proven that we no longer have to just "watch it get worse." We can now use specialized treatments to slow down this growth and protect your child’s long-term eye health. At our office, we provide full-service care by measuring the axial length (the physical length of the eye), taking a topographical corneal map, performing precise refractions, and using these metrics to carefully monitor for progression over time.
 

Our Myopia Management Options

• Low-Dose Atropine Eye Drops:

  • One of the simplest ways to manage myopia is through a specially formulated, low-dose eye drop used once a day at bedtime. These drops work by sending a signal to the eye to slow down its rate of growth. It is a non-invasive, "easy-to-start" option that doesn't change how your child sees during the day, making it a favorite for younger children or those who aren't quite ready for contact lenses yet.
     

• Orthokeratology (Ortho-K):

  • Think of Ortho-K as "braces for the eyes," but much more comfortable! These are specialized therapeutic lenses that your child wears only while they sleep. While they rest, the lenses gently and temporarily reshape the front surface of the eye. In the morning, the lenses are removed, and your child can see clearly all day long without needing glasses or daytime contacts. Most importantly, this reshaping is proven to be one of the most effective ways to slow down the elongation of the eye.

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• Multifocal Soft Contact Lenses:

  • For active kids who prefer daytime wear, we offer specialized soft contact lenses (such as MiSight® and others). Unlike standard contacts that only correct vision, these lenses have a "dual-focus" design. The center corrects their vision so they can see clearly, while the outer rings create a specific type of focus in the peripheral vision that tells the eye to stop growing so fast. They are daily disposables, which makes them a very hygienic and convenient option for busy students and athletes.
     

• Myopia Management Glasses (Stellast®):

  • If your child isn't ready for contact lenses, we can still manage their progression using advanced "treatment" glasses. These look and feel exactly like regular glasses but utilize cutting-edge lens technology to provide clear vision while simultaneously treating the peripheral retina. They are as easy to wear as a standard pair of frames but offer the clinical benefit of slowing down the lengthening of the eye.

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