Myopia or nearsightedness is a common vision problem affecting millions worldwide. Recent studies also show that it is now becoming more common among children. While myopia cannot be cured or reversed, proper treatment can slow its progression.

Myopia Treatment and Management for Children

The goal of treating myopia in children is to improve their vision as well as prevent the condition from progressing or worsening. Proper myopia treatment always begins with the correct diagnosis.

If your child tells you that objects at a distance look out of focus or blurry while objects that are closer look clear, it's time to see an eye specialist, as it could be myopia. However, it could also be another vision condition in conjunction with myopia. Your child's eye doctor will conduct a comprehensive vision examination to get to the root of the problem.

The eye doctor will check the following:
 

• Axial length and health of the retina (back of the eye)

• Cycloplegic refraction

• Choroidal thickness and corneal topography

• Lifestyle, including the amount of time doing close-up work and time spent outdoors

• Binocular vision measurements

• Health of the front of the eye

When the eye specialist diagnoses your child as myopic, they will present steps for managing the condition. Myopia management involves treatments that aim to change the structure of your child's eye by reducing fatigue or stress. Eye fatigue and stress from using digital devices are huge factors contributing to the development of myopia.

Treatment Options Available in Myopia Management

Atropine eye drops - When given in small doses for two to three years, atropine eye drops can slow the progression of your child's myopia. Since myopia worsens as the eye grows longer, these drops are believed to slow the eye's lengthening.

Special designs of soft contact lenses - These special contact lenses have a center that corrects blurry distance vision. Meanwhile, their outer portion blurs the child's peripheral vision, limiting myopia. 

Ortho-k - Orthokeratology is a type of contact lens that your child can wear overnight. It is designed to reshape your child's cornea during sleep and is removed in the morning. It will correct blurry distance vision and make distant images appear clearer the next day.

Wearing ortho-k lenses corrects or improves distance vision for a short time. Once children stop wearing these lenses, their cornea will return to its normal shape and they will go back to being nearsighted.

MiSight® - MiSight is a one-day soft contact lens designed to control or slow myopia in children eight to 12 years old.

How to Help Slow Down Your Child's Myopia

While your child is undergoing treatment for myopia, you can take steps to help slow its progress. First, encourage your child to spend more time outdoors. Second, limit the time your child spends in front of digital devices. Balancing outdoor time with screen time will help protect your child's vision as they grow older.

Do You Suspect Your Child Has Myopia?

If your child complains of seeing blurry objects from a distance, have his or her eyes checked by eye specialists at Family Eye Care Center of Atlanta in Atlanta, Georgia. Please call (404) 905-1400 to schedule an eye exam for your child today.