myopia
Myopic eyes are often eyes that have grown longer than normal. They are known as short-sighted or near-sighted.
People with myopia have blurred vision in the distance but see well at near
A child will complain the board is blurry and needs to sit closer to the front. They will also sit very close to the television and often squint. They may often complain of headaches and hold the book very close.
In situations with some of our “big kids”, diabetes may also need to be ruled out.
Myopia can have serious consequence in later age due to the higher risk of myopic macula degeneration, glaucoma and the myopic retinal detachment.
We therefore work towards treating its causes, instead of its symptoms.
What are the most common myopia causes
In the past, the most common myopia causes used to be hereditary.
Myopia can also occur through lack of sunlight exposure. There is a growing incidence of this cause, as its common for many people to spend alot of time indoor and on devices and computers.
in this day of age who spend a great deal of time indoors.
Binocular vision and eye strain can severely impact on myopia eye progression. Convergence insufficiency and decreasing longsighted are the first signs we notice that children are heading towards myopia even before becoming myopic.
It is important that we discuss environmental factors and the fact that children should be spending at least two hours a day outdoors.
There is often a strong family history of myopia. 15% chance if one parent is myopic, five times more likely if both are myopic.
At Kiddies Eye Care, we provide support and treatment plans that help slow progression for myopia control.
myopia control treatments
Are you concerned that your child’s glasses are getting stronger every 6 months?
A common question asked by parents: “Will glasses for Myopia make my child’s eyes worse?” The sad reality is they were getting worse without wearing glasses anyway!
It has been predicted that by year 2050 around 50% of the world’s population will have myopia and in some Asian countries the prevalence is projected to reach almost 70%.
Such studies have led us to be proactive and make use appropriate use of spectacles and contact lenses for myopia control. This can be achieved by reducing relative peripheral hyperopic defocus or accommodative lag.
New research is showing promise that you can now slow down myopia in some children and teens, but not by using sight correcting glasses.
Regular contact lenses and single vision glasses do nothing to stop myopia from getting worse.
At Kiddies Eye Care we take the necessary precautions by prescribing myopia control lenses in children’s glasses. We are now also prescribing Misight myopia control contact lenses in patients as young as 6.
Studies of over 10 years with the use of Misight contact lenses have shown a reduction of myopia progression of about 30-40%. Spectacles correction with such myopic control is still effective but slightly less than the contact lenses.
Orthokeratology, prescribing hard contact lenses to be fitted and slept in, have also shown to be effective in flattening the cornea in effort to decreasing the amount of myopia progression
