Myopia Management

Are you tired of constantly squinting to see? Do you or your child experience headaches, eye strain, or difficulty seeing distant objects clearly? You may have myopia or nearsightedness.

Fortunately, our myopia management services can help you address your eye needs and slow the progression of your condition, reducing the need for increasingly strong prescriptions and protecting your long-term eye health.

What is myopia?

Myopia is a common refractive error that causes shortsightedness, meaning that far-away objects appear blurry while close objects are still in focus. This occurs when the eye becomes elongated, or the cornea curves too much, causing light to focus in front of the retina instead of on it. Myopia typically develops in childhood and can worsen until the eye stops growing in early adulthood.

Signs you or your child may have myopia

The most common symptom of myopia is blurry vision when looking at distant objects. Other symptoms may include the following:

• Squinting
• Eye strain
• Headaches
• Difficulty seeing clearly while driving or playing sports

Causes of myopia

The exact causes of myopia are unknown, but there are several risk factors that can contribute to developing this condition, such as:

• Genetics — If one or both parents have myopia, their children are more likely to develop it.
• Environment — Spending time indoors or engaging in frequent near work can increase your risk.
• Age — Having a lower hyperopic refractive condition around the age of 6 can contribute to developing myopia.

Diagnosing myopia

In order to assess if you have myopia, our skilled optometrist will perform a comprehensive eye examination with several tests.

• Evaluation — We look at the overall health of your eyes
• Visual acuity test — This measures how well you can see at various distances.
• Refraction test — This determines the amount of nearsightedness

These tests help identify the signs of myopia and the strength of the prescription you will need. In addition, we will look at the shape of your cornea, as this is often a significant indicator of whether you have myopia.

What treatment options are available for myopia?

Treatment for myopia ranges depending on the individual patient, but spectacles or contact lenses are the most common. While these options provide clear vision, they don't address the underlying cause.

Other options to help slow or stop the progression of myopia include the following:

• Atropine— These are eye drops used to relax the eye muscles and slow myopia progression.
• Orthokeratology — This non-surgical treatment involves wearing special contact lenses overnight to gently reshape the cornea and correct the refractive error.

Don't wait to seek treatment if you or your child are experiencing nearsightedness. Our experienced optometrists will work with you to determine the best course of treatment based on your individual needs and lifestyle.

Book an appointment to protect your eyes today.

Submit