MYOPIC CONTROL
DR. VU EXPLAINS MYOPIA AND MYOPIC CONTROL
WHAT IS MYOPIC CONTROL?
Myopic control aims to slow the progression of nearsightedness in children. Our optometrists can help curb your kids’ myopia starting as early as age 7 and up.
Myopic control is important as it can reduce the risk of other eye conditions. Patients with high myopia (a severe form of myopia) are prone to develop glaucoma, cataracts, retinal detachment, and even blindness.
There are four types of myopic control treatments: Atropine eye drops, multifocal contact lenses, multifocal eyeglasses, and orthokeratology (ortho-k).
ATROPINE EYE DROPS
Atropine eye drops are used to fight eye inflammation and reduce pain. They help with fatigue associated with focusing by limiting the eye’s ability to automatically change focus.
Atropine reduces the progression of myopia for children. It is the best way to control myopia. It can reduce myopia progression by up to 77 percent.
ORTHOKERATOLOGY (ORTHO-K)
Orthokeratology is known as corneal reshaping lenses. Those contact lenses are designed to be worn exclusively at night while sleeping. It creates a temporary correction strong enough that corrective glasses are not needed during the day.
Children age 6 to 10 who wear ortho-k contact lenses have an eyeball length reduced by 43 percent. Which is a key point to fight myopia.
MULTIFOCAL CONTACT LENSES
Multifocal contact lenses are soft contact lenses with multiple prescriptions all in one lens. They provide constant distance and nearsightedness correction.
Multifocal contact lenses for myopic children are a great way to slow the progression of myopia (nearsightedness). Studies have found that this kind of contact lenses with a center distance design is able to slow the development of myopia as well as elongation of the eye.
According to studies, the peripheral retina (not the central retina called the macula), regulate eye growth. When a single-vision contact lens is used to try to correct myopia, the macula is corrected but the peripheral retina stays blurry. Which does not solve the long term problem of myopia progression. Multifocal contact lenses will slow down the axial elongation of the eye.
Studies have shown a 50% reduction of myopia and a 30% reduction in axial length in children age from 8 to 11 who wore multifocal contact lenses. For children from age 8 to 18, studies reported a 72% reduction in myopia progression with this kind of lenses compared to normal prescription eyeglasses.
At Eyepic, we believe that multifocal contact lenses are the best way to control myopia because they address the axial length.
To learn more about myopic control and how it can help your kids request an appointment at Eyepic Eye Care!