ABC Vision

Myopia, or nearsightedness, means that a person is unable to see clearly in the distance. In technical terms, myopia is the abnormal lengthening of the eye such that light can no longer focus on the nerves in the back of the eye. The condition is often first noticed when a child starts school and must squint to make out words on the board or prefers to sit in the front of the class to see better. Myopia typically starts between age 8 and 12 and continues to deteriorate until late teens or early 20’s. The younger a child is when their myopia starts, the more likely it is to progress and worsen over time. Higher amounts of myopia is associated with a greater risk of retinal detachment, glaucoma, and myopic maculopathy. It is important to diagnose and manage the progression of myopia in children as early as possible to prevent these sight-threatening conditions.

As a leading eye care facility in Portland, Oregon, ABC Vision doesn't want to see any of our young patients suffer from this vision disorder, so we've compiled five effective ways to manage myopia in children. These approaches will ensure that your child's vision remains healthy for years.

1. Regular Eye Exams

The American Optometric Association recommends a vision screening for infants between 6 months and 12 months of age, and the first full eye exam no later than age 5. After that, a regular eye exam should be scheduled every year to ensure the child has clear, comfortable vision to perform their best in school. When children are young, they cannot communicate that there is a problem with their vision because they do not know that there is anything abnormal about the way they see the world. Many children and adults vividly remember the first time they saw leaves on the trees after leaving the eye doctor with their first pair of glasses. Who knows what else your child could be missing out on if they don’t realize their vision isn’t clear?!

2. Glasses

Glasses are the easiest way to correct for myopia and give your child clear vision in the distance. However, your eye doctor may recommend glasses with two prescriptions built into the lens; studies have shown that using lenses with one prescription for distance and one for near can slow the progression of myopia by a small amount. There are also glasses being researched right now that may be even more effective for slowing the progression of myopia.

3. Multifocal Soft Contact Lenses

Soft contact lenses with two rings of power have been proven to slow the progression of myopia. The center ring contains the distance prescription and the peripheral ring contains a treatment zone that slows the growth of the eye. The MiSight contact lens for daily wear was FDA approved in 2019 for myopia control in children ages 8 to 12. With the MiSight lens, it is as simple as putting the contact lenses in the eyes in the morning and throwing them away at night (or recycling them at your local eye doctor :) Responsible children with good hygiene can wear contact lenses at any age as long as they desire to wear them. This is a great option for children who are involved in sports or if they simply don’t like wearing their glasses.

4. Orthokeratology

Orthokeratology is like wearing retainers for your eyes! This method uses custom-designed hard contact lenses worn at night while sleeping to reshape the front surface of the eye for optimal distance viewing in the daytime. The benefits of this method are that neither glasses or contact lenses need to be worn during the day or while swimming. It also allows parents to oversee the wearing of contacts entirely in the home; whereas soft contacts are worn mostly away from home. This method will require extra follow-up visits at the beginning of the fitting process to take measurements of the front surface of the eye to get the fit just right. Once the fitting process is complete, the child can be seen once a year by their eye doctor for their regular exam.

5. Atropine Eye Drops

Atropine eye drops relax the focusing muscles inside the eye and research has shown that low-doses (0.01%-0.05%) can slow the progression of myopia year after year. It is important to maintain the follow-up schedule and annual comprehensive exam with your child’s eye doctor to track this process. Atropine does not cure myopia and the child will still need glasses or contact lenses in addition to this method to correct their distance vision. It is a great option for patients who have no desire to wear contact lenses.

Bonus: Time Outdoors, Good Lighting, and Proper Nutrition

The easiest way to prevent the progression of myopia is to have your child spend as much time playing outside while they are very young before myopia has a chance to start. Research recommends 2 hours of outdoor time per day to help prevent the beginnings of myopia. Try placing your child’s desk next to a window so that they can benefit from the natural lighting and take breaks from their schoolwork to stare into the distance every 20 to 30 minutes. This allows the eyes to relax and not get stuck in the focusing position, which can cause extra strain on their eyes. Lastly, include fish oil supplements, fruits, and vegetables in your child’s daily diet to ensure the long-term health of their eyes and body.

Schedule an Appointment with Pediatric Eye Care for Myopia Management

At ABC Vision, Portland, Oregon, we believe these five approaches will help your child manage their myopia and keep their vision healthy for years. If you have any questions or want to schedule an appointment with a kid’s eye doctor, please do not hesitate to contact us at 503-473-8039.