What is Myopia Control?
“Myopia Control” is the term used to describe specific treatments to slow the progression of nearsightedness. Myopia is caused by the elongation of the axial length of the eye. This causes light rays to focus at a point in front of the retina, rather than directly on the surface. The earlier the onset, the higher the rate of progression.
If your child has myopia (nearsightedness), you’re probably wondering if there is a cure – or at least something that can be done to slow its progression so your child doesn’t need stronger glasses year after year. Although an outright cure for nearsightedness has not been discovered, your eye doctor can now offer a number of treatments that may be able to slow the progression of myopia. These treatments can induce changes in the structure and focusing of the eye to reduce stress and fatigue associated with the development and progression of nearsightedness.
There are three categories of myopia control treatment: Atropine eyedrops, multifocal contact lenses and multifocal eyeglasses.
MYOPIA CONTROL IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE IT MAY HELP REDUCE THE RISK OF VISION-THREATENING COMPLICATIONS ASSOCIATED WITH HIGH MYOPIA LATER IN LIFE- INCLUDING GLAUCOMA, CATARACTS, RETINAL DETACHMENT AND EVEN BLINDNESS.