Myopia Epidemic
Myopia, or nearsightedness, affects 40% of children in the U.S. By 2050, Myopia is expected to affect half the world's population.
Myopia increases the risk of serious, sight-threatening complications such as glaucoma, cataracts, and retinal detachment.
Did you know that conventional glasses and contact lenses do not slow the progression of myopia? Keep reading to see what you can do to protect your child’s vision.
Myopia, or nearsightedness, occurs when the focusing power of the eye is too great. This results in light focusing in front of the retina, causing distant objects to appear blurry. The onset of myopia at an early age brings with it the likelihood of life-long eye care, which can affect visual performance in the classroom. Later in life, if not treated properly, high levels of myopia double the risk of serious ocular health problems such as retinal detachment, cataract, and glaucoma, which can lead to vision loss and blindness.
levels of
MYOPIA
What causes myopia?
Myopia was once believed to only be hereditary. New research suggests that there are a series of other factors that can contribute to the development of myopia. Recent studies suggest that the rapid increase of visual stressors in the 21st century is contributing largely to the growth of myopia.
Visual Stressors
COMPUTER
VIDEO GAMES
READING
DEVICES
Symptoms of Myopia
The most common symptom is blurring of vision, particularly at a distance. Myopic patients have trouble with distance tasks such as seeing the board at school or driving and seeing road signs. Other symptoms include squinting, headaches, and eye strain. Near vision is typically unaffected.
Myopia Correction vs Myopia Control
Contact lenses, glasses, LASIK, PRK, SMILE and other refractive surgery procedures can be used as a correction to a patient’s myopia. However, recent studies suggest that myopia control should be practiced, helping to slow/halt the progression to prevent further damage to the eyes and decrease your risk of developing serious eye conditions like detached retina, glaucoma, cataracts, and macular degeneration.
At Edgewood Eye Center, we have several ways to control myopia. Traditional treatment of myopia include glasses and/or contacts.
If your child is a good candidate, we may be able to slow the progression of myopia using one the following contact lens products.
Multifocal soft contact lenses are daytime lenses originally developed for presbyopia—the common condition affecting people over 40 that causes increasing difficulties with reading and near focusing. These have circular zones of different prescriptions within the lens to give simultaneous focus of far-distance and close-up objects in the eye.
While there are various designs on the market, recent research have found that particular designs, so-called ‘center-distance’ lenses—where the center zone of the lens gives clear far-distance vision and the peripheral zones help with close-up focusing — are also effective in reducing myopia progression in children who wear these lenses daily.
Corneal Refractive Therapy (CRT) uses orthokeratology lenses to halt or slow the progression of myopia. The lenses are reverse geometry gas permeable and gently reshape the cornea while the patient is sleeping. Each lens is custom-made for each patient’s eye using precise measurement devices. Corneal Refractive Therapy is well-tolerated by children and adult patients.
Natural Vue Multifocal 1 Day
Featuring Patented Neurofocus Optics Technology with an extended depth of focus (EDOF), centre distance design which may address the mechanism that signals eye growth.
Clinically
Proven & Safe
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In a real world 6-year peer reviewed retrospective data analysis of 309 subjects showed:
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95% of subjects showed a reduction in myopic refractive error change
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78% of subjects showed a decrease of 70% or greater in myopic refractive error change
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67% of subjects showed a complete halting of myopic refractive error change
Each 1.00 Diopter decrease in myopia progression:
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Reduces the risk of retinal detachment by 20%
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Reduces the risk of cataract and open angle glaucoma by 20%
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Reduces risk of myopic Maculopathy by 40%
Myopic Parents
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There's a 50% chance your child will develop myopia if both parents are myopic (25% if one parent is myopic).
MiSight 1 Day
MiSight®1 day contact lenses are the first and ONLY soft contact lenses that are FDA approved to slow the progression of myopia in children.
The First & Only
MiSight® 1 day is the first and only FDA-approved soft contact lens to slow the progression of myopia in children aged 8 -12 at the initiation of treatment.
Clinically
Proven & Safe
Over a 3-year period, slowed myopia progression 59% on average, reduced eye lengthening by 52% on average, and 41% of eyes had no progression. Over a 6-year period, children wearing MiSight 1 day progressed less than 1.00D on average.
Parent Approved
90% of parents whose children wore MiSight® 1 day contact lenses reported that their children were happy wearing MiSight® 1 day lenses.
Child Friendly
After using MiSight® 1 day contact lenses for three years, 90% of children still strongly preferred them over their glasses.
CORNEAL REFRACTIVE THERAPY (CRT)
Contact lenses that correct or control myopia while you sleep.
Want to know if you or your child would be a good candidate for CRT?
Give us a call. We'll schedule you with our contact specialist to evaluate the best way for you to manage myopia.
