Myopia Control for Kids: Strategies for Slowing Down Progression
- posted: Jan. 17, 2024
Strategies for Slowing Down Myopia Progression in Children
Myopia, or nearsightedness, is a standard refractive vision error that causes distant objects to appear blurrier than objects up close. This condition occurs when the shape of your eye causes light to bend inaccurately on the retina. Myopia typically develops during childhood and can run in families. Correcting and slowing myopia progression is vital for maintaining healthy eyesight and preventing significant vision problems. The team at Family Vision in Anderson, Clemson, and Williamston, SC, is here to tell you ways of slowing the progression of your child’s myopia.
Ortho-K Lenses
Orthokeratology, or Ortho-K, presents an innovative approach that can remarkably slow myopia progression. Ortho-K involves wearing special contact lenses overnight to reshape the cornea gently and mitigate refractive errors. Think of Ortho-K lenses as nighttime braces or retainers you wear for your eyes. Ortho-K not only helps provide clear daytime vision without glasses or contacts, but this treatment also aids in controlling myopic progression. Your child must continually wear the lenses at night until they reach maximum effectiveness.
Multifocal Contact Lenses
Another option for myopia control is multifocal contact lenses. These contacts combine multiple prescriptions in one package to correct your nearsightedness. The design of these lenses allows a gradual transition when you look from a distant object to something up close. These can help reduce eye strain while focusing on close objects to slow myopia progression.
Spending More Time Outdoors
Additionally, increasing evidence shows that spending time outdoors can slow myopia development in children. Sunlight that comes in contact with the retina causes dopamine to get released into the eye, helping prevent the eye from elongating. At least two hours per day outside can be beneficial for slowing myopia progression. Spending time outdoors also encourages your child to focus on distant objects rather than near objects. Too much time spent reading or watching TV can cause myopia to progress more rapidly.
Contact Family Vision in Anderson, Clemson, and Williamston, SC, for Myopia Control
Controlling myopia and slowing its progression is vital for ensuring your child’s eye and vision health remains strong, so contact Family Vision in Anderson, Clemson, and Williamston, SC, to learn more ways to manage myopia. We are a family optometrist specializing in myopia control for kids, so call us and schedule an appointment today at our Anderson office at (864) 226-6041, our Clemson office at (864) 722-9205, or our Williamston office at (864) 847-7657.
- posted: Jan. 17, 2024
Strategies for Slowing Down Myopia Progression in Children
Myopia, or nearsightedness, is a standard refractive vision error that causes distant objects to appear blurrier than objects up close. This condition occurs when the shape of your eye causes light to bend inaccurately on the retina. Myopia typically develops during childhood and can run in families. Correcting and slowing myopia progression is vital for maintaining healthy eyesight and preventing significant vision problems. The team at Family Vision in Anderson, Clemson, and Williamston, SC, is here to tell you ways of slowing the progression of your child’s myopia.
Ortho-K Lenses
Orthokeratology, or Ortho-K, presents an innovative approach that can remarkably slow myopia progression. Ortho-K involves wearing special contact lenses overnight to reshape the cornea gently and mitigate refractive errors. Think of Ortho-K lenses as nighttime braces or retainers you wear for your eyes. Ortho-K not only helps provide clear daytime vision without glasses or contacts, but this treatment also aids in controlling myopic progression. Your child must continually wear the lenses at night until they reach maximum effectiveness.
Multifocal Contact Lenses
Another option for myopia control is multifocal contact lenses. These contacts combine multiple prescriptions in one package to correct your nearsightedness. The design of these lenses allows a gradual transition when you look from a distant object to something up close. These can help reduce eye strain while focusing on close objects to slow myopia progression.
Spending More Time Outdoors
Additionally, increasing evidence shows that spending time outdoors can slow myopia development in children. Sunlight that comes in contact with the retina causes dopamine to get released into the eye, helping prevent the eye from elongating. At least two hours per day outside can be beneficial for slowing myopia progression. Spending time outdoors also encourages your child to focus on distant objects rather than near objects. Too much time spent reading or watching TV can cause myopia to progress more rapidly.
Contact Family Vision in Anderson, Clemson, and Williamston, SC, for Myopia Control
Controlling myopia and slowing its progression is vital for ensuring your child’s eye and vision health remains strong, so contact Family Vision in Anderson, Clemson, and Williamston, SC, to learn more ways to manage myopia. We are a family optometrist specializing in myopia control for kids, so call us and schedule an appointment today at our Anderson office at (864) 226-6041, our Clemson office at (864) 722-9205, or our Williamston office at (864) 847-7657.