If you’ve noticed your child squinting to see the board at school or holding books too close to their face, they might be dealing with myopia, commonly known as nearsightedness. Myopia doesn’t just impair vision but can lead to long-term complications if left untreated.
That’s where myopia control lenses can come in. Myopia control lenses are specialized lenses designed to slow down the progression of myopia in children and teens. These lenses are part of a growing field of myopia management strategies aimed at protecting and improving young patients’ vision and eye health.
How Do Myopia Control Lenses Work?
Peripheral defocus occurs when light focuses behind the peripheral retina (hyperopic defocus), stimulating elongation and myopia progression. Treatments like myopia-control contact lenses and atropine drops, available at Downtown Eye Care, address this issue by altering peripheral focus to slow eye growth.
Types of Myopia Control Lenses
Soft Contact Lenses
MiSight lenses are the first FDA-approved and clinically proven to slow myopia progression in children. Abiliti 1-Day lenses have also arrived with a silicone blended option which are also soft, daily-disposable contact lenses designed with special zones that provide clear vision while simultaneously reducing the signals that encourage the eye to elongate.
These daily-disposable lenses can be a convenient and effective option for parents looking to manage their child’s myopia while maintaining their active lifestyle.
Orthokeratology (Ortho-K) Lenses
Ortho-K lenses are specialized contact lenses worn overnight to gently reshape the cornea. While you sleep, they create a clear central zone and a mid-peripheral ring, allowing for clear daytime vision without the need for glasses or contact lenses. The mid-peripheral ring also induces hyperopic defocus, which is essential for myopia management.
Originally designed to provide adults with clear vision throughout the day without glasses, Ortho-K later became an effective myopia management option. The discovery of the peripheral defocus ring and advancements in its placement refined its role in slowing myopia progression.
Atropine Drops
Atropine drops are a non-invasive method that helps reduce eye elongation and myopia progression. These drops are typically applied before bedtime and work effectively when combined with other solutions like glasses or MiSight lenses.
Spectacle Lenses Designed for Myopia Control
Specialized glasses designed for myopia control reduce peripheral hyperopic defocus, a key factor in eye elongation. These lenses suit younger patients and can be an effective, non-invasive option for slowing progression.
Multifocal Contact Lenses
Originally designed for presbyopia, multifocal lenses were later adapted for myopia management before the introduction of advanced designs like MiSight and Abiliti lenses. These lenses feature a clear central zone while adjusting peripheral focus to aid near vision for individuals over 45. When used in younger individuals, the peripheral rings could somewhat simulate peripheral defocus, showing some benefits in slowing myopia progression. However, multifocal lenses are no longer considered a primary therapeutic option for myopia management.
How to Choose the Right Myopia Control Option
Selecting the right myopia control solution depends on your child’s specific needs, lifestyle, and myopia progression. It is important to work closely with an eye care professional who can assess your child’s eye health and recommend the most suitable treatment plan.
Whether it’s the convenience of daily MiSight lenses, the overnight benefits of Ortho-K lenses, or the added support of atropine drops, each option offers unique advantages. Discussing these options will help ensure the best approach to effectively managing your child’s vision and slowing myopia progression.
The Benefits of Myopia Control
Why are myopia control lenses worth investing in? This is a very good question, and beyond improving vision, here are a few key reasons:
Slowing Down Progression
A main objective of myopia control lenses is to slow myopia progression, improving vision and reducing the risk of serious eye conditions like macular degeneration and retinal detachment in the future.
Improved Quality of Life
With clearer vision and less dependency on glasses, children can fully enjoy school, hobbies, and sports without limitations. This freedom boosts confidence, focus, and overall well-being, enhancing both academic and recreational experiences.
Future-Proofing Eye Health
Slowing myopia progression reduces both short- and long- term risks of myopic maculopathy, which can later increase the likelihood of age-related macular degeneration, retinal detachment, and glaucoma. The goal is to prevent children from developing high myopia, particularly with axial lengths exceeding 26mm.
However, questions remain about the optimal duration of treatment and which modalities offer lasting protection. The ATLAS study examined the short- and long-term effectiveness of previous interventions but was only able to follow up with a quarter of the original participants, revealing that the protective effects had diminished over time. While significant progress has been made in short-term myopia management, maintaining these benefits over 10 to 20 years remains a challenge.
Customized Solutions
With MiSight / Abiliti lenses, atropine drops, and multifocal contact lenses, myopia management plans can be tailored to fit each child’s unique needs, lifestyle, and vision goals. These options allow for flexibility in controlling myopia progression and ensuring clear vision while fitting seamlessly into your child’s daily routine.
Tips for Maintaining Eye Health with Myopia Control
Ensuring your child’s long-term eye health involves more than selecting the right myopia control solution. It also includes ongoing care and proactive steps to support their vision. Here are a few tips to keep in mind:
- Ongoing monitoring and care: Regular follow-up visits with your eye care professional to track progress and adjust treatment as needed.
- Adjust treatment plans: Modify the plan based on changes in your child’s vision.
- Encourage a healthy lifestyle: Promote outdoor activities and limit excessive screen time to support eye health.
- Proactive and consistent care: Stay committed to myopia control measures for improved vision and long-term eye health protection.
By staying committed to regular check-ups and healthy habits, you can help protect your child’s eye health and set them up for a future with clearer, healthier vision.
How to Get Started with Myopia Control
Don’t wait until your child’s myopia progresses further. Early intervention can be an effective way of slowing down the condition and protecting their long-term eye health. Schedule an appointment today with Downtown Eye Care & The Contact Lens Department and give your child the advantage of healthy, clear vision.
