Myopic Control
WHAT IS MYOPIA?
Myopia (or nearsightedness) is so common that nearly 50% of North America will have myopia by 2030.
Myopia happens when the eye grows too fast, too long, and gets weaker. You may know it as blurry vision far away. At Borel Eye Doctors, we specialize in pediatric eye care and treat myopia seriously.
CHILDHOOD MYOPIA
Myopia can develop as young as age 3, and it often gets worse as children grow. Parents may not see signs that their child has myopia, such as squinting or having to sit up close to the television or computer screen to see clearly. Children often don’t realize their vision is blurry.
The heavy use of digital devices is not going away and certainly is not helping things. It is important to have your child take breaks that are at least 5 minutes long, at least once an hour. Children should also spend at least 90 minutes outside a day.
The younger your child, the faster their myopia gets worse. Treating as early as possible before myopia gets any worse will lead to the best outcomes. At Borel Eye Doctors, we start evaluating children’s vision and eye health as young as 6 months old.
MYOPIA CAN AFFECT MORE THAN JUST YOUR EYES
Myopia can affect your child’s ability to perform well in school, sports, performing arts, and other activities that require clear vision. Controlling myopia progression will ease the burden that is put on performing daily tasks caused by the condition.
If you believe that your child is at risk for myopia, please contact Borel Eye Doctors to schedule a pediatric eye exam—this is the best first step to take.
TYPES OF MYOPIA CONTROL
Our job is to protect your child’s vision from getting worse as they grow, using the most appropriate treatment including:
MiSight® 1 day is a dual focus soft contact lens that is the only FDA-approved myopia control treatment to provide clear vision while simultaneously slowing the worsening of myopia. It was designed for young children and its efficacy is supported by a 7-year study.
Orthokeratology (ortho-k) contact lenses temporarily reshape the cornea overnight. Upon removal in the morning, nearsightedness is corrected delivering clear vision all day long. It is a great option for those that want freedom from daytime glasses and contact lenses, and especially swimmers and water polo players. These lenses must be worn each night to maintain clear vision.
Low-dose atropine eyedrops are instilled each night to slow the growth of the eye. Side effects include mild dilation of the pupils and a temporary reduction in the eye’s focusing ability.
Glasses provide clear vision for a period of time, but don’t do anything to keep the nearsightedness from worsening. We anticipate that myopia control glasses should be available in the U.S. by the start of 2026.fect your child’s ability to perform well in school, sports, and other activities that require clear vision. Effective management of myopia will ease the burden that is put on performing daily tasks caused by the condition.
If you believe that your child is at risk for high myopia, please contact Optical Illusions to schedule a pediatric eye exam—this is the best first step to take when getting treatment for their condition.