Overnight Vision Correction and Myopia Control  

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At Lawrenceville Family Eyecare, we have the experience and clinical knowledge necessary to diagnose and treat myopia. Also known as nearsightedness, myopia is a common condition where people have trouble seeing things in the distance but can see objects up close. Those with myopia may struggle to read writing from a distance, such as when looking at a blackboard or road sign. Myopia is often the result of the eyeball being too long or the cornea being too curved. This condition typically begins in childhood.  

 

Myopia is an epidemic in most of the world, especially in the Far East and places such as Hong Kong where it has an incidence of 80 percent. Having a parent with myopia increases your chance of becoming nearsighted by two times. If both parents are myopic, it will increase your chances by five times.  

 

How to Treat Progressive Myopia  

When a child is diagnosed with myopia, they are typically prescribed eyeglasses or contact lenses to correct their vision. In some cases, the condition will stabilize by the time the child becomes an adult. In other cases, myopia can progressively worsen as the child ages. This is because the eyeball shape continues to grow over time and impacts the child’s sight. 

 

Progressive myopia can cause symptoms such as: 

  • Eye strain 
  • Headaches 
  • Fatigue, particularly after looking at objects in the distance for extended periods 

 

Those with progressive myopia are at a higher risk of developing eye health problems later in life. These problems can include retinal detachment, glaucoma, cataracts, and macular degeneration. Due to progressive myopia’s negative impact on eye health and quality of life, it is important to get regular eye exams to screen for this condition. The earlier myopia is caught, the sooner your doctor will be able to create a myopia management plan that can help you or your child avoid significant eye health issues later in life. 

 

At Lawrenceville Family Eyecare, we can treat myopia using various methods including three ways that can decrease myopia by 50 percent: 

  • Orthokeratology (ortho-k): In this corneal reshaping procedure, the cornea is fitted with special contact lenses worn at night. These lenses reshape the eye and correct myopia during sleep by reshaping the cornea. Sometimes called braces for the eyes, in orthokeratology, the doctor designs a lens with the help of a device called a corneal topographer to gently change the curvature of the surface of your eye while you sleep. When you wake up in the morning, you simply remove the lenses and enjoy corrected vision all day.  
  • Special multifocal lenses: These lenses work in a similar way as ortho-k, but they are worn during the day to correct myopia.  
  • Atropine 0.1% drops: These drops are used to dilate the eye and can also stop or slow the progression of myopia even more effectively than the above two methods by a mechanism not understood clearly. However, it is not a very popular method with parents and practitioners because of the side effects of the higher concentration of Atropine 0.1%. 

 

At Lawrenceville Family Eyecare, the first step to managing myopia is to visit our office for a comprehensive eye exam or pediatric eye exam. At this exam, your eye doctor will perform various tests to check your eyes or your child’s eyes, determine your overall eye health, and screen for myopia. If myopia is discovered, your doctor will guide you through the proper treatment plan for correcting the issue and preventing further progression. 

  

Myopia Control in Lawrenceville   

Interested in learning more about myopia management? Schedule an eye exam at our eyecare center and let us know if you want to learn more about myopia control. Our qualified staff will help you find the right solution for your needs.