It’s natural for parents to worry about their child’s health and well-being, including their vision. If your child was recently diagnosed with myopia or is showing signs of this condition, you may be wondering what this means for their long-term eye health. In this blog post, we will discuss the long-term risks of myopia in children and share some potential solutions.
Long-term risks of myopia
Myopia, also known as nearsightedness, is a common vision problem that causes distant objects to appear blurry while close objects remain clear. In children, myopia can progress rapidly during growth spurts, leading to increasingly severe nearsightedness. This progression can lead to stronger prescriptions and increase the risk of developing serious eye conditions later in life. Children with moderate to high myopia are more susceptible to:
- Retinal detachment: Where the retina pulls away from the back of the eye, potentially causing vision loss.
- Glaucoma: A condition that damages the optic nerve, leading to vision loss and blindness. Glaucoma is often linked to severe myopia.
- Macular degeneration: Adults who had higher myopia as children may be at greater risk for this age-related vision problem.
Children with severe nearsightedness may also experience social and emotional challenges. Difficulty seeing clearly can impact a child’s performance in school and extracurricular activities, leading to frustration or low self-esteem. Addressing myopia early on and managing its progression can help prevent these negative consequences and ensure that your child’s vision remains healthy for years to come.
Early intervention is key
While myopia can’t always be prevented, early intervention can help manage its progression and lower the risk of serious eye issues in the future. Although glasses and contact lenses can correct your child’s vision, they won’t treat the underlying cause of myopia and prevent it from worsening. This is where myopia management can help. At the Eyecare Center of Ken Caryl, we offer innovative strategies for myopia management in Littleton, Colorado. We specialize in slowing the progression of myopia using these methods:
MiSight® 1-day soft contact lenses
MiSight® 1-day soft contact lenses are the first and only soft contact lenses that are FDA-approved to slow myopia progression in children aged 8-12 at the start of treatment. Studies have shown that wearing these specialized lenses can slow down the elongation of the eyeball that leads to worsening nearsightedness over time. With MiSight® 1 day contact lenses, there’s no need to worry about cleaning and storing them each night. Your child can discard them before bed and start fresh with a new pair in the morning.
Orthokeratology
Orthokeratology (ortho-k) lenses are specialized contact lenses worn overnight to gently reshape the cornea while sleeping, providing clear vision during the day without glasses or traditional contact lenses. Ortho-k lenses have been shown to slow the progression of myopia in children by controlling the elongation of the eyeball that leads to nearsightedness. By starting ortho-k treatment early, parents can help reduce their child’s risk of developing complications associated with high myopia.
Atropine eye drops
Atropine eye drops are another potential treatment option for managing childhood myopia. Atropine is a medication that dilates the pupil and temporarily relaxes the focusing muscles in the eye, helping to slow down the progression of nearsightedness. The earlier a child starts using atropine drops, the more effective they may be for managing myopia over time.
Understanding the long-term risks of myopia in children is crucial for parents who want to protect their child’s vision and overall eye health. If you are concerned about your child’s myopia, contact the Eyecare Center of Ken Caryl today. We can help manage their condition and protect their vision for the future.