5 Questions to Ask Your Optometrist About Myopia Management

Did you know that the cases of myopia, also commonly referred to as nearsightedness, doubled in school-aged children between the 1990s and the 2010s? In fact, it’s estimated that nearly 50% of the world’s population will be diagnosed with myopia by the year 2050. If your child develops myopia, it’s important that you have a complete understanding of this condition as well as a treatment known as myopia management. Myopia management is specifically designed for children and can help to slow the progression of this vision issue. If your optometrist has recommended that your take advantage of myopia management, here are the top five questions that you may want to ask.

1. Why did my child develop myopia?
   There are many reasons why your child may have developed myopia. Did you know that if your child spends more than seven hours per week focusing on a digital screen the chances of developing myopia triples? Also, if you were diagnosed with myopia, your child is at a higher risk of having this condition as well.
2. Why can’t my child just wear glasses to correct their vision?
   It’s important to remember that myopia is a progressive condition. While single vision glasses may help your child to see, it will not halt the progression of myopia. Myopia control and management, on the other hand, will not only improve your child’s vision but it can prevent other eye conditions that could impact him or her later in life such as glaucoma and cataracts.Related post: Treatments for Myopia in Childhood 
3. Is myopia management painful?
   Absolutely not. Your child’s comfort is always a leading consideration in any treatment option that is offered. In fact, there are a few options that are available which include:
   Ortho-K lenses
   Ortho-K lenses are used overnight and gently reshape the cornea. Your child won’t feel the lenses when wearing them. Using this treatment strategy avoids having to wear contact lenses or glasses during the day.MiSight lenses
   An alternative is to use MiSight lenses. These soft contact lenses are worn during the day and are designed for one day use which means that your child will change them each day. Our team will provide you with the guidance and resources that you need to ensure that your child can apply and remove MiSight lenses correctly.

Atropine treatments
Atropine treatments incorporate a combination of specialized eye drops, contact lenses or glasses which will relax the eye which can help myopia control.

4. What are the benefits of myopia management?
   Although there isn’t a cure for this condition, myopia control and management will not only save the health and vision of your child’s eyes, but it will also give them a level of freedom that they may not currently have. Instead of needing to wear glasses to go to school or play sports, they can correct their vision by using treatments that won’t overly disrupt their everyday life.
5. What can I do at home to help myopia control?
   There are several steps that you can take to slow down the progression of myopia in your child. Here are some recommendations:

 

• Be conscious of screen time
  While your child may enjoy playing their favorite video game, continuously being in front of a screen can cause digital eye strain. One of the best things that you can do is to closely monitor how much your child is in front of a screen and limit their use as much as possible.
• Encourage your child to use the 20-20-20 rule
  The 20-20-20 rule can help to reduce digital eye strain and it is something that any person can use. This rule dictates that you should take a 20 second break to look at something that is at least 20 feet away every 20 minutes.
• Spend more time outdoors
  Outdoor activity is great for your child in more than one way. Not only does it give them the opportunity to run around outside but sunlight can help healthy eye growth.

Related post: Myopia “Nearsightedness” – Common Questions and All You Need to Know 

Remember, these recommendations should always be used in addition to the myopia management plan that your optometrist provides.

Schedule Your Appointment Today to Learn More About Myopia Management

If you’re concerned that your child may be struggling with myopia, our optometrists can provide you with the information that is needed to develop a plan for myopia management. Get in touch with us today to book your appointment.