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MYOPIA CONTROL FOR CHILDREN
Learn more about Myopia control for children
Myopia Control for Kids in Edmonton – Diagnosis and Treatment
It’s an eye condition that could affect half the world’s population by 2050: myopia. Already, 30 per cent of Canadians have it. The most alarming fact about myopia is that it predominantly starts in childhood – and some pediatric cases go unnoticed and undiagnosed. Myopia in children can lead to more severe eye diseases later in life, even blindness, if left untreated.
The good news is that there’s an increasing amount of research suggesting that special glasses, contact lenses and eye drops can slow the progression of childhood myopia.
At Optometrists’ Clinic Inc. in Edmonton, we can diagnose myopia in your child and determine the best way forward to help preserve and protect your child’s vision. Contact us at one of our clinics in the Edmonton area, Leduc or Westlock to book a pediatric eye exam for your child.
What Is Myopia?
Myopia is also known as being nearsighted or short-sighted. It means you can see close things, but objects far away appear blurry. Myopia occurs when your eye is too long, deforming the cornea and lens (where light enters your eye) and stretching the retina (where the light hits the back of your eye). Therefore, when light enters your eye, it doesn’t hit your retina at the correct angle, and your vision becomes blurry. Determining whether myopia is due to the eyeball being too long or the cornea being too steep can help determine what treatment(s) are most appropriate. This can be done with new technology that measures the length of the eye and curvature of the cornea.
Our Myopia Management Program
The sooner myopia is detected and treated, the better. That’s why Optometrists’ Clinic offers a myopia management program for your children.
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Understanding Myopia Management
Myopia management consists of detecting and treating myopia in young children in order to proactively slow the progression of myopia. As children grow, so do their eyes, and the continuous stretching of the eyes not only worsens myopia but also increases the risks of serious eye diseases, including cataracts, myopic maculopathy, glaucoma, and retinal detachment.
Myopia Management focuses on detecting and treating nearsightedness at an early stage so that more serious complications can be avoided.
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Treatment Options
To prevent the rapid development of myopia, special treatment options are offered for your child. These include:
- Myopia Control Soft Contact Lenses
- Myopia Control Glasses Lenses
- Specially Formulated Eye Drops
- Ortho-Keratology (Ortho-K) Rigid Contact Lenses
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Treatment Success
Though results may vary depending on the patient and treatment method, many children experience a reduction of 50 to 60 % in the progression of myopia through the years. Treatment will not reverse myopia, which is why it is important for children to have regular eye examinations from and early age (before Kindergarten).
Learn more about how our myopia management program can help your child see a clearer future.
What to Expect During Your Myopia Assessment
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Initial Assessment
During the initial assessment, your child will go through specific examinations that can provide more detailed information than regular exams. The objective is to evaluate risk factors and determine the best course of action to treat the condition.
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Follow-up Visits
To properly evaluate the progression of your child’s nearsightedness and the effectiveness of the treatment, follow-up visits are scheduled every 6 months. In some cases, additional visits may be required.
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During the Assessment
Apart from thorough eye examination, our specialists will also discuss with you and your child risk factors, current habits regarding vision care and treatment options suited for the patient.
What Causes Myopia?
A combination of genetic and environmental factors can cause myopia. Children of parents with myopia are at an increased risk of developing the condition. However, increasing research shows that modern lifestyle factors have led to a sharp rise in cases globally.
For example, the Canadian Association of Optometrists cites research that links increased time spent in front of computers and phones with an increased risk of developing myopia. Additionally, spending less time outdoors is a contributing factor. Thus, our modern lifestyle of increased screen time and decreased time outdoors has led to an explosion of myopia cases worldwide.
What Causes Myopia to Worsen?
Children’s eyes grow rapidly, so any eye condition at an early age can impact how a child’s eyes develop. Unfortunately, myopia is hitting children at a younger and younger age. It now more commonly affects children as young as six years old — an alarming fact because, historically, myopia developed in children at 12 or 13.
Short-sightedness is a progressive condition. If left unchecked, symptoms (blurry vision at distance) and spectacle prescription can increase dramatically between the ages of 6 and 18.
Spending too much time focused on things up close can make myopia worse. Reading, knitting or working at a computer or smartphone can cause symptoms to increase.
How Does Myopia Affect Children and Teens?
Myopia can inhibit a child’s ability to learn in school and perform well in sports and other activities, leading to poor academic performance and self-esteem issues. On top of regular pediatric eye exams, you should consult an eye doctor if your child exhibits these symptoms:
Children with nearsightedness are at a much higher risk of developing more severe eye diseases later in life, such as macular degeneration, glaucoma, cataracts and retinal detachment. That’s why it’s critical to treat myopia as early as possible. Myopia management can greatly contribute to the reduction in the progression of nearsightedness, which significantly reduces the chances of developing these conditions. It is currently one of the most effective ways of treating myopia in children.
Can You Control Myopia or Stop It From Progressing?
There’s increasing research that shows there are things you can do to slow the progression of myopia. First, lifestyle changes such as less time in front of screens and more time outdoors can have a positive impact. Health experts recommend children spend at least 1.5 hours outdoors every day.
Second, therapeutic options such as specialized glasses and contact lenses have proven to slow myopia symptoms in children. Daily low-dose atropine eye drops can also be added to the regime to slow the progression.
What Types of Lenses Should You Use for Myopia Control?
Several eyeglass manufacturers make eyeglasses that are suited for children with myopia. Here are just a few.
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ZEISS MyoCare : age-related lens designs to manage myopia in children. Good vision for all viewing angles, comfortable vision and full UV protection. ZEISS has a 1 time 1 year Rx change on any Rx change on ZEISS MyoCare (or any ZEISS branded lens)
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ZEISS Myovision : glasses are specially designed for children with myopia. Using the glasses sends signals to your eyes that reduce the progression of eye elongation.
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Hoya Miyosmart : glasses are based on two years of clinical trials. They’re proven to reduce myopia progression in children by up to 60 percent.
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Cooper MiSight : child-friendly daily disposable contact lenses slow the progression of nearsightedness in children as young as 8.
Childhood Myopia Control in Kids in Edmonton
At Optometrists’ Clinic Inc., we provide complete eye care for adults and children. Our pediatric eye exams are essential for diagnosing conditions such as myopia early, giving children their best chance at protecting their vision. We offer several options for myopia control in children, including glasses, contact lenses and eye drops. Contact us at our Edmonton, Westlock and Leduc clinics and schedule an eye exam today to see if a myopia management program is right for your child.