Myopia Management in Long Island
What You Need To Know About Myopia
Myopia is the most common eye condition among children and young adults, also known as a refractive error. Usually, the eye directs light onto the retina, which transforms the light into electrical signals. Then, the brain receives these signals and turns them into the images we see.
With myopia, the eye elongates. This change in shape means that light focuses in front of the retina. This results in distant objects becoming blurry.
Remember, having trouble with distance vision doesn’t just mean trouble seeing very far away. For example, if your child sits at the back of the classroom, they might find it hard to read what’s on the board or see the teacher clearly.
The severity of myopia can progress gradually or rapidly, especially from ages 8 to 18. This is why myopia intervention when your child is young is so important. Intervention can help your child see more clearly with eyeglasses or contact lenses and slow down the condition’s progression.
Glasses and regular contact lenses correct vision, but don’t treat the cause of myopia or prevent it from worsening.
Why Does Myopia Need to Be Managed?
Myopia (nearsightedness) is reaching epidemic proportions. Reasearchers expect half the world’s population to have myopia by 2050. Myopia doesn’t just affect the ability to see the front of a classroom or to read road signs until they’re close. Myopia also significantly raises the risk of developing sight-threatening eye diseases later in life, such as cataracts, glaucoma, retinal detachment, and macular degeneration.
A child’s risk of developing eye diseases closely links to the degree of their myopia. A child with a level of myopia between -0.75D and -3.00D is three times more likely to develop retinal detachment in the future. For high myopia (-5.00D), you are nine times more likely to develop retinal detachment.
Worried myopia is worsening your child’s vision? Contact us at Diamond Vision in Long Island for a consultation.
Treatment Options For Myopia With Diamond Vision
Our eye doctor works closely with each family and customize treatment programs for every child based on their unique needs. Treatment options include glasses or contacts, prescription eye drops, or orthokeratology.
Ortho-k offers a smart contact lens option, suitable for children starting at age six. Children wear these lenses overnight, which gently and painlessly reshape their eyes during sleep. Upon waking, they remove the lenses, enjoying clear vision throughout the day.
Besides correcting nearsightedness, ortho-k also works to slow down its advancement. We evaluate our patients to determine the severity of myopia and to help select which treatment options are best. We monitor your child's eyes, with frequent follow-up visits (every six to 12 months) to track the progress of myopia. We also offer update treatment options if necessary.
What Parents Are Saying About Myopia Management
How Do I Know If My Child Needs Myopia Management?
If your child struggles to see things far away, gets frequent headaches and eye strain, and often squints to see better, these are likely symptoms of myopia.
Think your child might have myopia, or just want to check on their overall eye health? Give us a call or use the link at the top of this page to book an eye exam with our team. We will assess your child’s vision and determine if they have myopia and to what degree it has progressed. From there, we will recommend treatment options tailored to their needs and lifestyle.
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Myopia Management Offers A Brighter Future | FAQ
Myopia management is a proven to slow or halt myopia progression. This will help your child see clearly and lower their risk of developing eye diseases in later life. The team at Diamond Vision has included some frequently asked questions below.
If you have more questions, book an appointment with us to get all the information you need to make an informed decision.