Myopia Control in Children: Prevent Nearsightedness with Expert Care

What is Myopia (Nearsightedness) in Kids?

Nearsightedness, also known as myopia, is a common vision condition where distant objects appear blurry while close objects remain clear. This occurs because light entering the eye focuses in front of the retina rather than directly on it, often due to the eye being too long or the cornea having too much curvature.

Why is Myopia Increasing in Children?

More children are becoming nearsighted earlier, with more severe prescriptions. Research suggests increased screen time on computers, tablets, and smartphones, along with decreased outdoor time, is to blame. These factors affect normal eye growth, leading to longer eyeballs.

How does nearsightedness affect my child’s eye health?

Untreated myopia can increase the risk of serious eye conditions, such as early cataracts, glaucoma, and retinal detachment. In addition, nearsightedness affects your child’s quality of life, making them dependent on prescription glasses or contact lenses for daily activities and sports.

That’s OK, my child can get LASIK later…

While LASIK, PRK, and SMILE are effective vision correction surgeries, they aren’t suitable for everyone due to factors like thin corneas, high prescriptions, dry eye, or diabetes. Moreover, these surgeries don’t address the underlying problem of elongated eyeballs, which still pose risks for future eye diseases.

So how do we stop or slow down nearsightedness?

In an ideal world, the current nearsightedness epidemic can be averted with lifestyle and school environment changes. However such changes are not feasible with the way we now interact with technology. If your child is under ten years old, has experienced a rapid increase in nearsightedness, and both parents are nearsighted, the risk of your child developing severe nearsightedness is very high. We recommend considering one of the following treatments:
Atropine 0.05% drops
Ortho-K Gas Permeable Contact Lenses
Misight Soft Daily Disposable Contact Lenses

Myopia Treatment Options at Accu-Vision Optical

Atropine 0.05%

One drop daily in both eyes
The slight defocus in the peripheral retina gives the brain the correct feedback to slow down eye growth.
Very safe and well tolerated medication.
Multiple large scale studies since 2012 showing myopia progression reduction of %50.
Annual Costs: $500 for drops, $400 for 4 visits throughout the year, all out-of-pocket.
Pros: Most well-studied, safe, no special contacts, suitable for very young children who cannot wear contact lenses, and least expensive.
Cons: potential side effects (light sensitivity, blurry vision, halos), still requires correction (glasses and contacts), rebound effects if discontinued before late teen years.

Ortho-K

Gas Permeable hard contacts that child wears while sleeping.
Constant pressure from the contacts reshape the corneas.
The contact lenses unique reverse geometry cause peripheral corneal steepening which in turn defocuses the peripheral retina and slows down progression.
Like Atropine, very well researched with multiple large scale studies on efficacy.
Costs: $800 for contacts (partially covered by insurance), $500 for fitting and monitoring every quarter( not covered by insurance).
Pros: Corrects vision while still slowing down myopia, glasses and contacts free vision during daytime.
Cons: Discomfort, multiple initial visits, usage learning curve, risks of eye infection, correction wearing off by end of day.

Misight

Soft daily disposable contact lenses.
Similar to multifocal soft contact lenses, Misight has concentric rings of power that defocus the peripheral retina and slow down myopic progression.
The first and only FDA approved myopia control treatment. Similar efficacy to Atropine and Ortho-K, cuts down myopic progression by 50%.
Annual Costs: $1500 for soft contact lenses supply and follow-up visits (partially covered by insurance).
Pros: vision correction with myopia control, comfortable soft contacts, less eye infection risks compared to Ortho-K, prescription easily updated as the eyes progress.
Cons: Still minor risks of eye infection, usage learning curve, less longer term research, limited age group studies (8-12 years old), most expensive.