Myopia Control for Pediatric Patients at Brighter Outlook Vision
Is your child squinting a lot?
Is your child struggling to see the board at school?
Or maybe they complain of headaches after screen time?
Feel like you are missing a puzzle piece on why your child is behaving a certain way?
All of these are signs of myopia (nearsightedness), a common concern among kids.
Glasses temporarily correct vision, but myopia will only get worse, meaning stronger prescriptions every year, expensive eyewear… and higher risk for eye disease. Early management of nearsightedness can help your child now and protect them from future risks.
What is Myopia?
Myopia begins in childhood, but if left untreated, can cause significant problems throughout life. It’s estimated that 1 in 3 children have myopia. Since COVID-19, children are spending more time indoors & using screens, leading to an unprecedented increase in myopia cases.
Myopia, or nearsightedness, usually occurs because the eye is elongated, causing light to refract incorrectly and making vision blurry. More than 40% of Americans are nearsighted today, up from 25% in 1971. Researchers believe that if left untreated, by 2050 more than 50% of the world will suffer from this correctible vision problem.
When we spend so much time looking up close at screens or near objects, our eyeball physically changes, elongating. This is especially detrimental to children under 12 in the years critical to development, causing the problem to get worse and worse, with lifelong consequences. Hear more about myopia and how it can impact children on NPR’s Ted Radio Hour.
The best prevention for myopia is time spent outdoors, away from screens. If a child already has myopia, early detection and intervention are crucial. Myopia management can help slow the progression of nearsightedness and protect your child’s vision for the future.
Ready to see if your myopia management is right for your child? Schedule a Complimentary Myopia Consultation by calling 843-203-0200.
Why Choose Myopia Management?
Here at Brighter Outlook Vision, we understand the concerns parents have when it comes to their child’s vision. That’s why we offer the most advanced treatment options and proven techniques to help slow the progression of nearsightedness in your child.
Our innovative myopia management services help to:
● Slow myopia progression: Left untreated, myopia can worsen over time. Myopia management can help slow this progression, protecting your child’s vision for the future.
● Reduce the risk of eye problems: Untreated high myopia can increase the risk of serious eye conditions later in life. Myopia management helps reduce this risk.
● Improve your child’s quality of life: Clear vision is essential for learning, playing sports, and enjoying everyday activities. Myopia management can help ensure your child experiences the world clearly.
How To Know If Your Child Might Have Myopia
If your child has any of the following or if their teacher has noticed a vision problem, please connect with our office:
- Skipping words or lines while reading
- Blurry vision when looking at distant objects
- Headaches
- Eyestrain
- Persistently squints
- Underperforming in sports
- Seems unaware of distant objects
- Struggling at school
- Blinks excessively
- Rubs their eyes frequently
- Sits close to the television
- Frequently needs glasses updated
If left untreated, myopia can cause the following complications according to the Mayo Clinic:
- Poor school experiences: Children with myopia or other vision problems can experience delays in reading or other academic skills, difficulty with social interactions, and poor self-esteem.
- Reduced quality of life: Uncorrected nearsightedness can prevent you from performing daily tasks well or enjoying activities.
- Eyestrain: Uncorrected nearsightedness may cause persistent eyestrain and headaches.
- Impaired safety: Your safety and the safety of others may be jeopardized if you have an uncorrected vision problem. This could be especially serious if you are driving a car or operating heavy equipment.
- Other eye problems: Severe nearsightedness puts you at an increased risk of retinal detachment, glaucoma, cataracts and other serious eye conditions.
Help Your Child Reach Their Potential With Brighter Outlook Vision
The problems myopia can cause are preventable. At Brighter Outlook Vision, we use a holistic approach to vision care. Unlike the usual eye exam, we can test the entire visual system to check that it has the developmental maturity, strength, and stamina to function optimally throughout the visual tasks performed on a daily basis. We have the most modern equipment to ensure we are accurately managing your child’s myopia.
Once we identify any vulnerable areas in the vision process that could interfere with reading, learning, and life, we develop an individualized program of care designed to improve under-performing visual functions and retrain the brain to interpret visual input more accurately and efficiently.
Myopia management is most effective in improving long-term outcomes when a child starts treatment while their eyes are still developing.
Don’t wait for this window to close. Book a free consultation and get an expert’s opinion on your child’s myopia.
Frequently Asked Questions About Myopia
What is myopia (nearsightedness)?
Myopia is a condition where the eye grows longer than it should from front to back. When this happens, light doesn’t focus properly on the retina, making far-away objects appear blurry.
Several factors contribute to myopia, including family history, limited time spent outdoors, and increased use of screens like tablets, phones, and computers.
Childhood myopia is becoming much more common. This matters because higher levels of myopia are linked to an increased risk of serious eye conditions later in life, such as retinal detachment, glaucoma, and cataracts. Without intervention, children with myopia often need stronger and stronger prescriptions over time.
Myopia management focuses on slowing down this excessive eye growth, helping protect your child’s long-term eye health.
Why aren’t glasses or regular contacts enough?
Glasses and standard contact lenses help your child see clearly, but they don’t address the underlying issue causing myopia, the eye stretching too long.
Without targeted treatment, myopia typically continues to worsen year after year. As the prescription increases, so does the risk of future eye health complications as the eyeball stretches longer and longer. Myopia management goes beyond vision correction by actively working to slow progression and maintain the health of the eyeball.
Is there an age range for myopia management?
Myopia management is most effective when started early, often when myopia is first diagnosed. Many children begin treatment between ages 6 and 12.
That said, older children and teens can still benefit from treatment because our eyes continue growing until our early twenties. The best timing depends on your child’s eye health, prescription, and how quickly their vision is changing. An evaluation can help determine the right approach and when to begin. If your child has myopia, connect with us for a free myopia management consultation to see what works best for your child.
What treatment options are available?
There are several evidence-based approaches used to manage myopia progression in children:
- Specialty contact lenses designed to guide eye growth
- Prescription eye drops that help slow elongation of the eye
- Overnight contact lenses designed to minimize eye growth and live correction free
- Latest in lens technology to reduce progression rather than traditional lenses that just help with clarity
Each treatment plan is customized based on your child’s vision, eye health, and daily routine. A comprehensive myopia management evaluation helps determine the most appropriate option.
What is orthokeratology (Ortho-K) or overnight contact lenses?
Orthokeratology, often called Ortho-K, uses specially designed contact lenses worn overnight. While your child sleeps, the lenses gently reshape the surface of the eye.
This allows for clear vision during the day without needing glasses or contacts, while also helping slow the progression of myopia. These lenses are made from breathable materials and are carefully fitted for each child.
What are atropine eye drops?
Atropine is a medicated eye drop used in low doses to help slow myopia progression. It’s a great option for children who may not be ready for contact lenses, or it can be combined with other treatments for added effectiveness.
What are specialty lenses?
Essilor specialty lenses are advanced eyeglass lenses designed not just to correct blurry vision, but to help slow the progression of myopia in children. Unlike traditional lenses, these use specific optical designs to reduce the signals that can encourage the eye to keep growing longer.
They’re a great option for children who prefer wearing glasses over contact lenses, while still benefiting from myopia management.
What are specialty contact lenses?
Specialty contact lenses are daily disposable soft contact lenses specifically created for myopia management in children. They not only provide clear vision throughout the day but are also designed to help slow the progression of nearsightedness.
Because they’re single-use lenses, there’s no need for cleaning or storage, making them a convenient and hygienic option for many families.
Can children with astigmatism or high prescriptions still qualify?
Yes. Children with astigmatism or stronger prescriptions can still benefit from myopia management. Treatment plans are tailored to each child, and there are options available to accommodate a wide range of visual needs.
Is myopia management new? Can any eye doctor provide it?
While research on myopia control has been around for many years, awareness has grown as rates of childhood myopia have increased.
Effective treatment requires specialized training, experience, and technology. Not all eye doctors offer comprehensive myopia management, so it’s important to work with a provider who focuses on this area and closely monitors progress over time. We suggest ensuring that your provider checks at least every 6 months, and ideally every 3 months, and that they measure axial length in addition to prescription.
How much does treatment cost?
Costs can vary depending on the treatment plan. We offer free consultations to determine the best modality and flexible payment options to make care more accessible for families.
What’s included in the first year of care? What about after that?
Myopia management is often structured similarly to orthodontic care, with a comprehensive approach that includes visits, monitoring, and necessary materials.
The first two years typically involve more frequent visits to establish and adjust treatment. In following years, care continues at a reduced frequency while still monitoring eye growth and maintaining results.
Ongoing care is important until the eyes finish developing, usually in the late teens or early twenties.
How effective is myopia management?
Most children experience a noticeable slowing of myopia progression with treatment, though results vary from child to child.
Because every child’s eyes and lifestyle are different, your doctor will discuss realistic expectations and recommend the approach that offers the best chance for success. Our goal is to reduce their future prescription by 70-80% and keep the axial length from growing as much as possible.
