It is estimated that by the year 2050, half of the world’s population will have myopia, or nearsightedness. As of 2016, 40% of Americans had the condition. While there is no cure for myopia, the good news is that with the help of an eye doctor, there are ways to slow down the progression of the condition among children.
In this blog, Opti-Care discusses methods of slowing the progression of myopia in children.
What Is Myopia?
Patients with myopia have trouble seeing distant-range objects, while nearby objects appear clear. Myopia is typically genetic and develops during childhood.
How Is Myopia Controlled?
While a cure to myopia hasn’t been developed yet, there are currently four types of treatment that show promising results in terms of controlling myopia progression:
- Atropine eye drops – These eye drops are used to dilate the pupils and relax the eyes’ focusing mechanism. Their effects can take a week or longer to wear off. Since nearsightedness in children has been linked to eye focus fatigue, atropine eye drops are being tapped for myopia control because they inhibit the eyes’ focusing mechanism.
- Multifocal eyeglasses – Compared to conventional single-vision eyeglasses, multifocal eyeglasses have been found to reduce progressive myopia for most children by a small but remarkable percent.
- Multifocal contact lenses – The FDA has recently approved the use of special, single-use, disposable soft contact lenses designed to inhibit the progression of myopia in children.
- Orthokeratology – “Ortho-k” lenses are gas permeable lenses that are worn overnight to temporarily correct nearsightedness. They are also referred to as corneal reshaping lenses, as eyeball elongation has been linked to myopia.
When it comes to the best and latest in eye health, Opti-Care is the eye center to trust. We specialize in a wide range of optical procedures and accessories, including dry eye treatments and customized eyewear. Call us today at (410) 795-8670 to request an appointment. We cater to patients in Westminster, MD.