Vision care is important for all ages, but certain vision conditions can develop early. Myopia, also known as nearsightedness, is one of those conditions. The first step is scheduling a comprehensive eye exam with one of our optometrists.
Myopia usually begins developing in school-age children, and early management can make a huge difference in preserving your children’s vision!
The good news about myopia is that different management methods can help your children, including myopia control lenses. But what are myopia control lenses? Let’s explore myopia and how these lenses can help.
A Closer Look at Myopia
Myopia is a refractive error that occurs when the eyeball is too long, or the cornea is curved too steeply. As a result, the light that should focus on the retina instead focuses in front of the retina, making distant objects appear blurry.
Myopia can also affect your children in the classroom! Around 80% of classroom learning is visual, and untreated myopia can have a negative effect on children’s academic growth.
Some common signs and symptoms to look out for with myopia include:
- Trouble seeing objects that are far away
- Needing to squint to see clearly
- Eye strain
- Frequent headaches
This common vision condition affects nearly 30 percent of Canadians, and it can impact your children’s quality of life if not managed through consistent eye exams. Eye exams allow our optometrists to stay up-to-date on your child’s visual needs and offer personalized management methods.
There are different management methods that can help manage myopia, including special myopia control lenses designed to address the vision condition. The goal is to slow down the progression of myopia so your children can get back to their favourite book and out on more adventures with their friends!
How Myopia Control Lenses Work
Myopia management starts with an eye exam, and the earlier you start managing myopia in your children, the better your chances of limiting further complications and vision issues. The Grande Prairie Myopia Management Institute by Aurora Eye Care offers various myopia control solutions.
MiSight 1 Day Contact Lenses
MiSight 1 day contact lenses are an excellent option to help slow down the progression of myopia. These myopia control lenses use ActivControl Technology to create zones of myopic defocus. This technology changes how light focuses on the retina and sends signals to the eye that slow down elongation.
MiSight 1 day lenses are clinically proven to slow myopia progression for children between 8 and 12 years old. Some features of MiSight 1 day lenses include:
- Easy to fit, single-use lens
- Correcting refractive error and slowing the elongation of the eye
- Suitable for age-appropriate children
Studies have shown that MiSight contact lenses slow the progression of myopia by an average of 59 percent.
Myopia control lenses offer an effective option to help your children tackle myopia head-on and clear up their vision.
Hoya MiyoSmart Lenses
Hoya MiyoSmart lenses are a safe and non-invasive method to manage myopia. These lenses have a proven track record and are designed to slow down the progression of myopia in myopic children by up to 59 percent.
MiyoSmart lenses use zones of peripheral defocus to help slow down myopia progression. This process blurs your child’s peripheral vision but corrects their central vision, so their distance vision is clearer.
Low-Dose Atropine
Low-dose atropine eye drops have been shown to help slow the elongation of the eye by around 50 percent. Low-dose atropine drop treatment is sometimes paired with anti-fatigue lenses with photochromic tints to help combat any adverse side effects of the medication.
This eye drop is prescription only and formulated by your pharmacist. Low-dose atropine treatment has been determined to be safe, and our optometrists will help find the right strength to help maximize myopia control with your child.
Proven Myopia Solutions
When your children are dealing with myopia, the first thing on your mind is finding solutions to help them overcome their myopia struggles, and thankfully you’ve got options.. MiSight contact lenses are proven to help slow myopia progression in age-appropriate children and help your children get back to focusing on their school work and daily adventures. MiYOSMART contact lenses are another great option created specifically for children that help slow down myopia progression by correcting the visual defect on the entire surface of the eye.
Book an appointment with an optometrist at Aurora Eye Care to see if myopia control lenses are a good option for your children.