Myopia, or nearsightedness, is one of the most common refractive errors, affecting millions of school-aged children and adolescents. There’s no permanent cure, but preemptive measures can slow its progression and ensure your child’s vision stays sharp.
At Wide Eye Optometry in Encino, Santa Clarita, and Palmdale, California, Mary Demirjian, OD, and our expert team provide early intervention for myopia. We also educate parents on steps they can take to support their child’s vision.
Here, we discuss the ins and outs of myopia, including how proper myopia management can support and preserve your child’s eyesight as they develop.
Myopia is a refractive error that causes objects in the distance to look blurry. Millions of children and teens have myopia, but it commonly runs in families. If you or your partner have myopia, your child is more likely to have it, as well.
Myopia occurs when your child’s eyeball is too long from front to back, or if their cornea (the clear, dome-shaped layer of the outer eye) has an abnormal curve. This causes light that enters the eye to fall short of the retina — a light-sensitive tissue layer at the back of the eye — making objects in the distance, such as words on a chalkboard, appear blurry.
If your child or teenager is diagnosed with myopia, proper management of the condition can prevent it from worsening. Dr. Demirjian may suggest:
Low-dose atropine eye drops block the muscarinic receptors in the eyes which control the contraction and relaxation of the eye muscles. Administering these eye drops daily for several years can reduce eye strain and slow the progression of myopia.
For optimal results, administer the eye drops just before bedtime. Side effects are rare, but some children may experience temporary eye redness and itchiness.
These special contact lenses are multifocal, meaning they have different areas of focus. For example, the center of the lens corrects blurry distance vision, while the outside edges defocus or “blur” the wearer’s side (peripheral) vision.
Peripheral defocus contacts are typically prescribed to children between the ages of six and 12. They don’t work for everyone, but often support kids who have parents with myopia.
Because wearing contacts can increase the risk of corneal infection, however, proper contact lens handling, cleaning, and storage is of utmost importance.
Ortho-K is a myopia treatment that uses special contact lenses to flatten the cornea. During Ortho-K, your child wears special contacts at night while sleeping. When they remove their contacts in the morning, light falls more precisely on the retina, sharpening distance vision.
Wearing Ortho-K contacts only improves vision for a short time, so your child must adhere to a strict treatment schedule. Most kids wear Ortho-K lenses for one or two years, but the exact duration depends on your child’s individual needs.
Getting outside is a great way to spend time in nature and get some fresh air, but it can also slow myopia progression. Research suggests regular sun exposure releases dopamine into the retina, which can slow the elongation of the eye, and in turn, sharpen blurry distance vision.
Playing outside also gives the eyes ample opportunity to focus on objects at varying distances, which can help prevent eye strain and keep your child’s vision sharp.
If your child has myopia and you’re concerned about their vision, we can offer expert guidance through our pediatric eye care program. Since myopia worsens without treatment, now’s time to act — call or click online to schedule a visit at Wide Eye Optometry in Encino, Santa Clarita, or Palmdale, California, today.