Most people have heard of myopia (or nearsightedness) and how it causes blurry vision at a distance. But did you know children with myopia are more likely to develop serious eye issues later in life? Myopia is linked to a higher risk of eye problems such as retinal degeneration and detachment, glaucoma, and cataracts at a younger age. The good news is myopia management can help slow down its progression and lower your child’s risk for these conditions.
When eye doctors diagnose children with myopia, they typically prescribe glasses or contact lenses to correct their vision. While these methods provide clear vision, they don’t prevent myopia from getting worse. At Omaha Primary EyeCare, we offer myopia management in Elkhorn to slow myopia progression. In this blog post, we’ll explore the best time to start myopia management and why early intervention is crucial for managing this condition in children.
When is the right time to start myopia management?
One key factor in determining when to start myopia control for your child is their age. The best age to begin myopia control is typically between 6-12 years old when their eyes are still developing. Starting treatment during this critical period can have a significant impact on slowing myopia progression and preserving vision.
In addition to age, it is important to consider the rate of myopia progression in your child. Your eye doctor can assess how quickly your child’s prescription is changing and recommend appropriate treatment options based on their needs. If your child’s myopia is progressing rapidly, early intervention becomes even more crucial to effectively manage their nearsightedness. Children with certain risk factors, such as a family history of high myopia or other eye conditions, may also benefit from starting treatment earlier than others.
How to manage myopia
At Omaha Primary EyeCare, we offer orthokeratology and MiSight® 1 day contact lenses for myopia control. Orthokeratology (ortho-k) involves wearing special rigid contact lenses overnight to reshape the cornea and temporarily correct vision during the day. MiSight lenses are soft contact lenses specifically designed to slow down the progression of myopia in children. Both options have been shown to be safe and effective in managing myopia.
Parents should also encourage healthy habits that can help manage myopia, such as spending more time outdoors and taking frequent breaks from screens or close-up work. These lifestyle changes combined with myopia control treatment can have a significant impact on slowing down the progression of nearsightedness in children.
In conclusion, it’s never too early to start thinking about myopia management for your child. Early intervention can help slow down the progression of nearsightedness and reduce the risk of associated eye conditions in the future. Schedule an appointment with our optometrist today and let us know if you want to learn more about myopia control!
