Glasses can improve visual acuity, but they are not a solution for controlling progressive myopia.
Myopia, also known as nearsightedness, is a refractive error that occurs when the eye grows too long (axial length), or the cornea and/or eye lens are too curved relative to the eye’s length.
A myopic eye focuses an image in front of the retina, instead of directly on the retina, causing blurry distance vision.
Myopia is generally corrected with prescription glasses or contact lenses. The optical prescription is written with a negative sign, such as -1.00 or -2.25.
Signs of myopia
- Blurry distance vision
- Squinting when reading the board or watching TV
- Sitting at the front of the classroom to clearly see the teacher and board
- Sitting at close proximity to the TV or computer screen
- Holding books or digital devices close to the eyes
- Avoidance of sports that require clear distance vision
What is progressive myopia?
Progressive myopia is nearsightedness that requires an increase in vision correction each year.
Many parents are concerned about their child’s myopia worsening each year, as high myopia increases their risk of sight-threatening eye conditions.
Myopia progression is a rising concern among eyecare professionals due to the overwhelming scientific evidence that high levels of myopia contribute to the development of serious eye diseases, including:
SEE RELATED: What is Myopia Management?
If you are concerned about your child’s myopia, contact an eye doctor near you to discuss Myopia Management.
Why not just get stronger glasses?
While distance vision glasses help to correct myopia in the short term, they cannot help to control progressive myopia.
Single vision glasses are designed to manipulate the way light is focused onto the retina, offering clearer distance vision. However, they only improve vision clarity for images in the central visual field, resulting in continued blurry vision for images on the periphery.
To compensate for this, the retina begins to stretch, further lengthening the eyeball and worsening the nearsightedness.
What is myopia management?
Myopia management is an effective treatment program to slow or halt myopia progression in children and young adults.
Myopia management has been shown to decrease the rate of myopia progression by over 70%.
Myopia management uses specialized contact lenses, optical lenses and eye drops to control the rate of myopia progression.
If your child’s myopia is worsening each year, consult with your eye doctor to find a myopia management strategy that will be most effective in controlling your child’s myopia progression.
LEARN MORE: Guide to Myopia Management
To schedule your child’s myopia consultation, contact an eye doctor near you.
If your child’s myopia has been increasing each year, learn how myopia management could be the solution you have been searching for.
