As a parent, you want the best for your child, and that includes protecting their vision. Being nearsighted or myopic can affect your child’s ability to learn, play, and enjoy life. However, the traditional solution of glasses or contact lenses is only temporary and may even make the problem worse.
Luckily, myopia management services can help slow down or even stop the progression of your child’s myopia. In this blog post, we’ll explore what myopia is, why it’s a concern, and how myopia management services at Spectrum Eye Care in Colorado Springs can help.
What is myopia?
Myopia is a common eye condition that causes distant objects to appear blurry while nearby objects remain in focus. This occurs because the eye is longer than usual, causing light rays to focus in front of the retina instead of on it. Myopia typically develops in childhood and can worsen as the eye grows. You can see how myopia looks through the eyes of your child by using this myopia simulator. While glasses and contact lenses can correct nearsightedness temporarily, they do not address the underlying issue.
Why is myopia a concern?
Myopia can lead to more serious eye problems, such as glaucoma, cataracts, and retinal detachment. Additionally, the more severe the myopia, the greater the risk of eye issues. Children with myopia may also experience other problems such as headaches, fatigue, and decreased quality of life. Myopia is becoming more prevalent, with studies predicting that up to 50% of the world’s population may be myopic by 2050.
How can myopia management services help?
Glasses and contact lenses have been the traditional options for myopia management in children. However, with myopia progressing faster and earlier in children than ever before, new treatment options have been developed to help slow down the progression of the condition, including orthokeratology (overnight contact lenses that reshape the cornea) and atropine eye drops.
At Spectrum Eye Care in Colorado Springs, we offer a range of myopia management treatment options to help your child’s vision. One of the treatments we offer is MiSight® 1-day soft contact lenses. These lenses are specially designed for children with myopia and have been shown to slow down the progression of the condition. When used over three years, MiSight® 1-day contact lenses reduced myopia progression by 59 percent for kids ages 8-12. They’re comfortable to wear and can even help improve your child’s visual acuity in the process!
Benefits of myopia management services
The benefits of myopia management services go beyond just improved vision. By slowing down the progression of myopia, your child can reduce their risk of developing serious eye conditions later in life, such as retinal detachment, glaucoma, and cataracts. Myopia management services can also improve your child’s performance in school and sports by allowing them to see more clearly without constantly adjusting their glasses or contact lenses.
The importance of early detection
Early detection is key when it comes to managing myopia in children. Children who start myopia management services early can have greater success in slowing down the progression of the condition and preventing serious eye issues later in life. Regular pediatric eye exams are important to detect myopia early, and your eye doctor can recommend the best course of action for your child’s individual needs.
By taking steps to control the progression of your child’s myopia early on, you can help protect your child’s eyes and ensure better vision for the future! Contact us today to talk about your child’s risk of myopia and the available options for myopia management services.