Myopia Treatment in Green Acres, FL

Myopia affects around 30% of the US population, and it can cause a range of symptoms. The Myopia Institute warns by 2050, nearly half of the population could have myopia.

At Greenlake Eyecare, we provide multiple treatment options to correct this refractive error and protect and improve your child’s vision.

There are two kinds of myopia: low and high. Those with high myopia are five to six times more likely to suffer retinal detachment. It is essential to control the progression of myopia with proper screenings and corrective treatments.

What Is Myopia?

Myopia is a refractive error condition caused by eyeballs that grow too long. Images come into focus before they can reach the retina when the eyes are longer because the distance between the lens and retina is greater.

What Causes Myopia?

Myopia occurs because the eyeball grows much longer than it would normally. Children are more likely to develop myopia if both parents are myopic. Unfortunately, research shows myopia is more likely to develop now as children use more digital devices and spend less time playing outside.

The changes to our visual demands, in the form of increasing digital products, can lead to a 25% chance of children developing myopia, even if they do not have a myopic parent. It seems we have a myopia epidemic on our hands!

What Are the Symptoms of Myopia?

We want you to know the symptoms of myopia so you can take action to protect your child’s vision. Regular eye exams can detect the signs of myopia development before a child begins to suffer symptoms. Myopia typically causes the following childhood symptoms:

1. Yearly worsening of myopia nearsightedness
2. Trouble seeing distances
3. Frequent complaints of headaches
4. Rubbing eyes
5. Chronic tearing and redness
6. Sitting closer to the television
7. Poor visual tracking and focus
8. Chronic eye fatigue
9. Eye strain

Usually, myopia is a simple nuisance that can be treated with contact lenses. In rare cases, children may develop a progressive form of myopia, leading to the pronounced degradation of their vision and needing more than contact lens therapy.

All children are at risk of developing myopia, but not all will develop this refractive error. People with high myopia are more likely to develop serious eye diseases like glaucoma.

Recent research suggests that increased time behind digital screens is one of the most common causes of this alarming problem.

Treatments Can Slow Down Myopia Progression

Myopia progression occurs most rapidly during early childhood. Most in early adulthood experience stabilization of their condition, but it will typically worsen as people grow older.

There are treatment options that can help slow the progression of myopia. Progressive myopia causes nearsighted people to experience decreased vision every year. Progressive types of the condition can eventually lead to blindness without proper myopia management.

Options for Myopia Treatment Greenacres, FL

Many parents panic when they learn their child has myopia, but we want you to know your child is in the best hands with our caring staff. If you are concerned about nearsightedness, we urge you to schedule an appointment and allow our eye doctor to protect your child’s vision.

Ortho-K Contact Lenses

Orthokeratology lenses are like braces for the eyes. These lenses use cornea-shaping technology to change the shape of your child’s cornea temporarily. These lenses are worn at night and can help provide freedom from contact lenses and glasses.

Ortho-K lenses are the only lens FDA-approved therapy for myopia control. One of the things many parents like about these lenses is that they are only worn during the night. Parents can monitor their child’s usage and ensure they get the necessary vision correction.

Myopia causes a steepening of the cornea, and Orthokeratology helps flatten the cornea. Best of all, the results are completely reversible.

We invite you to schedule a consultation to learn if your child is a good candidate for orthokeratology (ortho k). Our doctor will ensure your child’s prescription is precise for their cornea measurements.

Multifocal Contact Lenses

There is also the option of progressive contact lenses. These soft lenses are each worn for a month and then disposed of, and a new pair is worn. Children with mild myopia usually respond well to this treatment, though they are less effective than eye braces.

Atropine Eye Drops

Although most children wear contact lenses or glasses to correct vision, other options exist. Atropine eye drops contain an antimuscarinic agent that helps widen the pupil and relax the eye muscles. These drops have been clinically shown to slow down the progression of myopia.

Atropine Therapy for Children

Atropine therapy is administered in the conjunctival sac. Most children will need one drop per eye, but our doctor will give precise instructions for your child’s eye drops. We will show you how to administer the drops and what to expect.

To complement the atropine drops, we recommend children spend time outdoors in natural sunlight daily. You should also limit your child’s screen time and ensure they continue to wear their glasses or contact lenses to improve their vision.

Low doses of atropine drops are FDA-approved to treat myopia in children. Schedule your child’s appointment to learn about atropine therapy for progressing nearsightedness.

How Quickly Does Atropine Therapy Work?

It can take up to six months of consistent atropine therapy for patients to notice changes. Atropine is not a cure and does not reverse myopia. Atropine is used to slow the progression and help prevent other more serious eye conditions from developing, such as glaucoma

Seek Myopia Control Options Today

Corneal refractive therapy can help with controlling myopia. Allow us to be your partner in myopia management. From the right contact lens to prescription eye drops, there are ways to conduct myopia management that are much more advanced than options used to correct vision alone.

Your child’s vision is important to us. Proper eye care can help your child with nearsightedness see with greater clarity. We will help reduce the risk of progression with a corrective lens that can help keep myopia under better control.

Whether you are interested in atropine therapy or eye braces, you can rely on Greenlake Eyecare for all your vision needs. Call us right away to schedule an appointment today!