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Myopia Management For Children

Asian Girl Reading BookMyopia Management Starts with an Eye Test in Bankstown

Regular comprehensive eye tests for your child at all stages of their development is extremely important to ensure a child’s vision will develop as it should and to diagnose any eye conditions that may be affecting your child. There are many eye conditions, such as strabismus and amblyopia that can be corrected easily if caught early but can do irreversible damage that will affect a child into adulthood if left undiagnosed and untreated for too long. However, one of the leading causes of ocular disease in adults that continues to progress is myopia or nearsightedness.

Myopia Management May Include:

  • Orthokeratology (“ortho-k”) or Corneal Refractive Therapy
  • Atropine Drops
  • Multifocal contact lenses
  • Multifocal eyeglasses

Slow or Stop Myopia

While nearsightedness or myopia for many has been corrected through glasses or contact lenses, a modern concept has developed called Myopia Management. Myopia management is oriented to slow down or stop the progression of myopia since over the past few decades myopia has increased at an alarming rate. Unfortunately, the percentage of moderate to high myopia has grown in number and myopia management is becoming a major consideration for parents & their child’s eye health.

Levels of Myopia:

  • Mild myopia: -0.25 to -3.00 D
  • Moderate myopia: Between -3.00 to -6.00 D
  • High myopia: More than -6.00 D

Nearsightedness Increases Risk of Ocular Diseases

  • Cataracts:
    The rate of progression of myopia has been linked to the development of cataracts. The higher the level of myopia in a child, the faster the rate cataracts can develop when they get older.
  • Glaucoma:
    Glaucoma is when the eye develops an unusually high pressure, where this pressure can damage the optic nerve and cause vision loss. Studies have shown that nearsighted people have a 2-3x greater risk at Glaucoma.
  • Detached Retina:
    Levels of myopia also have a correlation to detached retinas. A detached retina is when the retina pulls away from the eyes tissue, often resulting in permanent vision loss.

Myopia Management Starts with You – The Parent

Your child’s eyes are his/her gateway into the world of learning. When your child’s vision is not functioning properly, learning and participation in recreational activities will suffer. Children are not likely to recognize vision problems like myopia, and it is therefore the responsibility of parents and teachers to recognize signs of visual problems in their children.

Children’s Eyesight May Change, Less Often With Myopia Management

Because changes in your child’s vision can occur without you or your child noticing them, your child should visit the optometrist every year or more frequently if specific problems or risk factors exist. Myopia management attempts to reduce the number of changes that may occur in your child’s vision. With a successful myopia management program, an optometrist can provide your child with amazing vision, track your child’s rate of myopia, and provide a clear road to healthy eyesight and a successful future.

  • Myopia, always common in children, is an increasing problem. The number of kids who are nearsighted has grown by leaps and bounds in recent years. The reason for this remains blurry, yet one possible culprit is the increased amount of time kids spend indoors gazing at digital screens, with limited exposure to natural light.