Am I a Good Candidate for Myopia Management?

Myopia, more commonly referred to as nearsightedness, is a severe yet prevalent vision condition in which a person can clearly see objects that happen to be close by. Still, they have trouble focusing on distant objects. This condition is progressive and affects approximately half of the adult population in the United States. Myopia is recognized as a global health threat due to the rapid increase in cases worldwide. The rise of this disorder is predominantly ascribed to less time spent outdoors and more time spent looking at computers, tablets, smartphones, and other digital screens.

Nearsightedness can create learning challenges for children and other serious ocular conditions in adults, such as retinal detachment, glaucoma, cataracts, and in rare cases, even blindness.

 

Myopia Management for Children

When myopia is diagnosed in pediatric patients, there is an enormous opportunity to take aggressive steps to slow its progression and protect the child’s vision for years to come.

• Distance Center Multifocal Soft Contact Lenses, such as FDA-approved Cooper Vision’s MiSight 1 Day Contact Lenses. They are daily worn, single-use contacts that have successfully slowed myopia progression in children aged 8 to 12 years old at the start of treatment. Early interventions to slow myopia’s progression can significantly reduce the risk of developing other serious eye conditions as children get older. These lenses are worn like traditional soft contact lenses, but the lenses have different “zones” that trick the eye into slowing disease progression.
• Orthokeratology Lenses or Ortho-K lenses are customized to precisely fit the patient’s eyes. Orthokeratology utilizes cutting-edge, topographical software to map the eye’s ocular surface. The lens is designed to reshape the corneal surface gradually while the patient is sleeping. These lenses are worn at night and removed daily so that patients can enjoy clear vision and an active lifestyle without the concern of eyeglasses or contact lenses. Ortho-K lenses provide vision correction and effectively slow the progression of myopia. Ortho-K lenses are a top choice in myopia management.
• Atropine drops are a therapy used to slow myopia progression and can be used in conjunction with Ortho-K lenses or eyeglasses in children and adolescents. This medication, in low concentrations, can be used to slow the progression of myopia.

 

Correcting Vision in Adults

As people age, they may be diagnosed with more than one refractive error. It is common for middle-aged or older adults to have myopia or hyperopia, presbyopia (age-related farsightedness), astigmatism, or a combination of two or three disorders.

• Bifocal or Multifocal lenses. Your optometrist may recommend bifocals or multifocal lens eyeglasses to assist in the correction of all refractive errors simultaneously. Another option includes bifocal or multifocal contact lenses that successfully enable patients to see near, medium, and far distances with better visual clarity. These lenses have two or more prescriptions that help people alternate between activities seamlessly, with a comfortable, clear transition between near and far distances. Multifocal lenses help reduce eye strain, especially for those who cannot avoid prolonged screen time working on computers.
• Ortho-K lenses are an option for adults with refractive error, especially for those who want to avoid eyewear during the day while still enjoying clear vision.
• Refractive surgeries, such as LASIK and photorefractive keratectomy, can reshape the cornea and reduce the need for eyeglasses and contact lenses. There are no guarantees that corrective lens wear will not remain necessary after surgery.

 

Protect Your Eyesight and See the World Exactly as You’re Meant To: Clearly

Seeing the world clearly through eyes that don’t have to strain or grow tired trying to focus is a game changer. Schedule an eye exam at Miami Contact Lens Institute and improve your quality of life by giving yourself the gift of clear vision. Learn about the advanced options available for managing myopia and other refractive errors. See clearly again and protect your vision for years to come.