What is Myopia?
Researchers believe that the environment kids grow up in today, with too many close distance activities (like reading and device use) and lack of outdoor play is contributing to the rapid increase in childhood myopia. While glasses and contact lenses compensate for a child’s blurry distance vision, they don’t stop your child’s vision from continuing to deteriorate. As children grow, myopia often develops as they reach school age and, untreated, progresses into the late teens. Hear other kids and parents share why myopia treatment is so important here
The Danger of Myopia
Studies now show there is more to worry about with myopic eyes than the inconvenience of ever-thickening glasses. Scientific evidence has proven that myopic patients are more vulnerable to a range of sight-threatening diseases and complications.
Patients with mild myopia have a four-fold increase in the risk of retinal detachment. For those with moderate to severe myopia, the risk increases ten times. One study concluded that more than 50 percent of retinal detachments not related to trauma are associated with myopia. Other myopia risks include glaucoma, cataracts and macular degeneration.
Myopia can now be treated
The dangers of myopia, in conjunction with the normal challenges of poor vision, mean it is important for parents of myopic children to treat the condition as part of your child’s eye health. The goal of myopia management is to slow or even stop the progression of myopia and reduce its impact on your child’s life. The younger myopia management begins, the more effective the treatment.
We are excited at PRACTICE NAME to announce the launch of our children’s myopia management service in partnership with Treehouse Eyes®, the country’s leading myopia management brand. This revolutionary system, designed to treat your child’s myopia and significantly reduce the threat of more serious eye diseases, is one of the most important innovations since glasses were first prescribed hundreds of years ago!
Schedule an appointment today and one of our doctors will evaluate your child’s vision and make a customized treatment plan to slow or even stop myopia from progressing.
How does it work?
Treehouse Eyes doctors use state-of-the-art equipment to develop a personalized treatment plan for your child. Our non-invasive treatments include customized contact lenses and special prescription eye drops. Some of our treatments will even allow your child to see clearly without glasses or contact lenses all day. Data from children using our patent-pending Treehouse Vision System® treatment plan shows a 78% decrease in the progression of their myopia vs. no treatment. At your initial consultation, your Treehouse Eyes doctor will determine the treatment that will work best for your child.
If you have difficulty seeing objects in the distance but can see clearly up close, you may have myopia. Other symptoms include squinting, headaches, and eyestrain. The best way to know for sure is to have a comprehensive eye exam with an eye doctor.
Yes, myopia can be inherited. If one or both parents have myopia, their children are more likely to develop myopia as well.
While there is no surefire way to prevent myopia, there are some things you can do to reduce your risk of developing it or slow its progression. These include spending more time outdoors, taking frequent breaks from close-up work or screens, maintaining a healthy diet, and getting regular eye exams.
Yes, myopia can be corrected with eyeglasses, contact lenses, or refractive surgery. The most common correction methods are eyeglasses or contact lenses, which help to focus light onto the retina properly. Refractive surgery, such as LASIK, can also be an option for some people.
Myopia typically develops during childhood and adolescence and tends to stabilize in early adulthood. However, in some cases, it can continue to worsen over time, especially in individuals with high myopia. Regular eye exams are important to monitor any changes in your vision.
No, wearing eyeglasses or contact lenses to correct myopia will not make it worse. In fact, not wearing corrective lenses when needed can lead to eye strain and potentially worsen myopia.
In some cases, myopia can increase the risk of developing other eye problems, such as retinal detachment, glaucoma, and cataracts. It’s important to have regular eye exams to monitor your eye health and catch any potential problems early.