A recent study found that 30% of the global population has myopia (nearsightedness). This number is expected to increase to 50 percent by 2050, which may make myopia the leading cause of blindness worldwide.
Today, Progressive Eyecare discusses myopia and the various treatment methods available through an eye doctor.
Prevalence of Myopia
A significant number of people have myopia, and the rate is continuing to rise, especially among school-aged children. According to the American Optometric Association’s (AOA) 2018 American Eye-Q survey, one in four parents have a child with myopia, with about 75% of those receiving a diagnosis between the ages of three and 12.
“Vision plays an important role in many aspects of daily life. However, the future will be blurry at best for millions of children unless we start tackling this growing issue,” says Samuel D. Pierce, AOA’s president. “Since eye and vision problems can become worse over time, early diagnosis and treatment through comprehensive, yearly eye exams are essential to optimize children’s eye and vision health and prevent future vision loss.”
The survey also revealed that more than half of Americans are unaware of the prevalence of myopia and don’t know about methods that can help control the condition.
Myopia in Children
Myopia occurs when the eyeball is too long or the cornea is too curved. This causes light rays that enter the eye to be focused incorrectly, which makes distant objects appear blurred. The condition usually develops in school-age children and progresses until around age 20.
Common symptoms of myopia in children include squinting while watching TV, frequent headaches, poor performance at school and a short attention span.
Myopia can lead to other issues throughout children’s school years and into their adult years. When not addressed, myopia can put them at risk of retinal detachment, cataract development, macular degeneration and glaucoma later in life.
Vision screenings at schools or the pediatrician’s office aren’t enough to detect vision problems. Bring your child for regular visits at your eye care provider for a comprehensive eye exam to determine the condition of their eye health and vision.
Methods for Myopia Control
Myopia control refers to the line of treatments to slow the development of the condition in children. The four major methods of myopia control are atropine eye drops, multifocal glasses, multifocal contact lenses and orthokeratology (ortho-k).
Atropine eye drops are used to reduce the pain that comes with specific types of inflammation. To ease focusing fatigue, these eye drops dilate the pupil and temporarily limit the eye’s ability to shift focus. Studies suggest that atropine eye drops can reduce the progression of myopia by up to 70 percent.
Multifocal contacts and glasses enable patients to see clearly at all distances. A recent study found that children who wore multifocal lenses daily experienced a 50 percent reduction in the progression of their myopia compared to those who wore regular soft contacts.
Orthokeratology (ortho-k) involves the use of corneal reshaping contact lenses that are worn during sleep and removed upon waking up in the morning, enabling the patient to see clearly the next day. A two-year study of nearsighted Chinese children discovered that ortho-k contacts reduced the lengthening of the eyeball by 40 percent compared to children who wore regular eyeglasses for myopia correction.
Learn more about myopia control from your local eye care provider, Progressive Eyecare. You can count on us for the vision needs of the entire family. Schedule an annual back-to-school eye exam for your child to set them up for success. We offer eyeglasses and contact lenses that are age-appropriate and comfortable to wear. Call us at (702) 368-2021 (North Las Vegas), (702) 834-5609 (Boca Park) or (702) 407-0601 (Southwest Las Vegas). You can also complete our online form to schedule an appointment. We assist patients in Summerlin and Las Vegas, NV.