What Causes Myopia?

Myopia occurs due to an abnormal curvature bend. The eye is normally round and smooth, similar to a marble. If you have myopia, your cornea isn't even and smooth. There are a couple of factors that can increase your risk of developing myopia.

• Genetics: Myopia tends to run in families. If one of your parents is nearsighted, there is a chance that you will be as well. If both of your parents are nearsighted, your risk increases significantly.

• Spending too much time indoors: Studies have shown that people who spend little time outdoors have a higher risk of having myopia than those who go outdoors often.

 

What Are the Symptoms Of Myopia?

The most common symptom of myopia is seeing objects in the distance as blurry. The other symptoms include:

• Needing to squint to see objects in the distance

• Needing to sit closer to the TV or in the classroom

• Being unaware of objects in the distance

• Excessive blinking

• Needing to rub your eyes frequently to see objects in the distance more clearly

 

Managing Myopia

To manage myopia symptoms, the best solution is to consult with an eye doctor to find a treatment that works for your child. The eyes and the lifestyle will determine the best myopia correction method: glasses, contact lenses, or orthokeratology. All of these options are safe and reliable for most children. 

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Preventing Myopia in the First Place

Slowing the progression of myopia is possible if it is detected early enough. Practicing outdoor activities for at least 2 hours a day and reducing near tasks to less than 2 hours per day is most beneficial to slowing myopia progression in children.

If you want to know if your child is at risk of developing myopia, book an eye examination with one of our eye doctors.

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Regular Eye Exams

It may not always be obvious that the vision is worsening. It’s important to get regular eye exams to keep a close eye on whether the prescription changed or not. Wearing the correct prescription is vital in Old South Optometry’s myopia management strategy. It also allows eye doctors to assess your child’s risk of having fast progressive myopia.

From there, an eye doctor will be able to recommend treatment options. Make sure you discuss your day-to-day activities with your eye doctor to decide the best strategy for your child’s specific needs.

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Myopia Control Strategy 

Orthokeratology

You may have heard of Orthokeratology, also known as Ortho-K, as a treatment for myopia. A series of hard contact lenses are used to gradually flatten the cornea and reduce myopia. It requires wearing hard contact lenses to bed every night.

Wearing Ortho-K lenses only temporarily improve your vision. When you take the lenses out of your eyes, the cornea gradually returns to its original shape, and myopia returns.

Over a twelve-year follow-up period, overnight Orthokeratology successfully slowed the progression of myopia. It is considered by myopia specialists to be the most effective strategy in controlling myopia progression.

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Eye Drops

Atropine eye drops are used to dilate the pupils. When administered in small doses to children older than two to three years, the drops may slow the development of myopia. 

Although it is unclear exactly why these drops work for slowing myopia progression, doctors think that these drops may stop the eye from lengthening.

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MiSight Contact Lenses

MiSight soft contacts are specifically designed to control myopia in children ages 8 to 12. The dual focus optical design of this daily-disposable soft contact lens gives your child clear vision and signals the eye to slow down in its growth. 

Compared to single vision lenses, MiSight slowed the progression of myopia by 59%. By doing this, you help your child today and lower the risk of vision-threatening eye diseases in the future.

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Myopia Control Eyeglass Lenses, Zeiss MyoVision, and Essilor Stellest Lenses

In addition to correcting refractive issues, these lenses also cause “peripheral myopic defocus” to project an image in front of the retina’s surface rather than its back, which increases nearsightedness.

 

Whether you’re a parent looking for tools to slow myopia progression in your child or an adult looking to manage your myopia, there are options for you. Book your appointment today with Dr. Kambiz Khorram at El Dorado Hills Vision Center Optometry to find the best solution for your vision. To learn more about Myopia control give us a call today at (916) 292-5666.

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