Myopia Control
What is Myopia?
Myopia, also known as nearsightedness, is a common condition where people can’t see objects in the distance, such as a blackboard in a classroom setting or road signs when driving a car, but they can see objects up close clearly, such as a smart phone, tablet, book, or computer. Common symptoms of myopia include squinting, eye strain, headaches, and feeling fatigued after driving.
What Causes Myopia?
Myopia happens when the eyeball is either too long or when the cornea or lens is too curved for the shape of the eyeball.
Myopia usually begins in childhood, and children with one or both parents who are nearsighted are more at risk for developing it. If your child has been diagnosed with myopia, you can see the world through your child’s eyes through this myopia simulator: https://coopervision.com/myopia-simulator
Myopia in children is usually treated by wearing eyeglasses or contact lenses. Sometimes the condition stabilizes by the time a child reaches adulthood, but other times, the nearsightedness continues to get progressively worse. Progressive myopia is usually caused by the eyeball shape growing longer with time.
Progressive myopia is increasing globally at an alarming rate1 and people with progressive myopia are at a higher risk for developing eye health problems later in life including glaucoma, cataracts, macular degeneration, or retinal detachment.
What is Myopia Control?
Myopia control refers to treatments which slow or stop the progression of myopia so that nearsightedness does not get any worse. One form of myopia treatment includes MiSight contacts. They can be especially effective for young children.
At Vision Center LTD, we are certified providers of MiSight®1 day contact lenses. MiSight contact lenses are the first and only soft contact lenses that are FDA approved* to slow the progression of myopia in children 8-12 years of age at initiation of treatment. That means that they’ve been comprehensively tested over an extended period and have met all the safety criteria required by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Not only is this form of myopia management safe, but also it has been proven to be effective. Children ages 8 – 12 wearing MiSight®1 day contact lenses experienced an average of 59% reduction of myopia progression over three years.2
Myopia Control in Shelton and Waterbury
Interested in learning more? Book a pediatric eye exam for your child at one of our offices and tell us you’d like to learn more about myopia control and MiSight® 1 Day for Myopia Control contact lenses. We will check your child’s eyes and guide you both through next steps.
Sources:
- WHO – The Impact of Myopia and High Myopia
- Cooper Vision- Learn About Myopia