Nearsightedness

What is nearsightedness (Myopia)?

Nearsightedness, or myopia, is a refractive error in which close objects appear clear but distant objects appear blurred. Almost 40% of people in the United States are nearsighted.

Some children have a progressive form of nearsightedness that worsens through the late teens or early 20’s. Children with nearsightedness may require glasses or contacts to help them see in the distance, but these traditional options do not aid in slowing the progression of nearsightedness.

What causes nearsightedness?

Nearsightedness is caused by:

3 tips to slow your child’s progression of nearsightedness

Why is it important to slow down the progression of nearsightedness?

Correcting nearsightedness with glasses or regular contact lenses alleviates visual symptoms such as blurry vision but does not prevent nearsightedness from progressing. There is a strong association with higher amounts of nearsightedness and the risk of certain eye diseases as your child gets older. Reducing the amount of nearsightedness also reduces the chance of developing vision-threatening conditions like macular degeneration, retinal detachments, glaucoma, and cataracts.

What options are available for managing nearsightedness?

Options available through Thomas Eye Group include contact lenses and eye drops.

Low dose atropine eye drops

Dual-focus contact lenses

Corneal Reshaping (Ortho-K) contact lenses

How long will treatment continue?

Nearsightedness can progress into the late-teens or early-20s. The exact amount of time your child will need treatment varies from child to child, but you can expect to continue whichever method of treatment is best for your child into their teenage years.

If you suspect your child might have nearsightedness,
please schedule an appointment today!

Thomas Eye Group