Up to 40% of children under 19 are dealing with myopia, and it typically begins developing between ages 6–14. Fortunately, if diagnosed and treated soon enough, the need for future corrective eyewear can be minimized or eliminated.
There are signs your child may be developing myopia, such as squinting or sitting close to the TV to see. An eye examination from an eye doctor is the best way to determine if myopia is the problem.
Schedule an appointment with Essential Eyes Columbia to determine if your child is developing myopia.
Myopia, commonly known as nearsightedness, is a vision condition where you can see things clearly up close, but objects are blurry in the distance. It’s not unique to children, but it often develops while the eyes are growing.
Some optometrists recommend beginning myopia control as early as age 4 to slow its progression and help retain clear vision.
At Essential Eye Columbia, we know that each case of myopia needs a unique and customized plan. There are several options for controlling your child’s myopia you can discuss with their eye doctor.
ATROPINE EYE DROPS
In the correct concentrations, atropine eye drops can be an effective form of myopia control. There could be some light sensitivity or blurry vision during the treatment. But this is usually minor and outweighed by the benefits,
MULTIFOCAL LENSES & GLASSES
Depending on the progression of myopia, your eye doctor may suggest multifocal contact lenses or eyeglasses with multifocal lenses as a form of myopia control for your child.
MISIGHT
MiSight 1 day contact lenses are developed by CooperVision. They’re clinically shown to help improve vision and slow the elongation of the eye, which is one factor that contributes to an increase in myopic vision.
A comprehensive children’s eye exam can help determine if your child is seeing their best. If you notice signs that your child may not see clearly, talk to us today. After seeing your child for a comprehensive eye exam, Dr. Price can recommend which myopia control method may work best for your child.