Is your child struggling in class due to nearsightedness? Our optometrist in Lincolnshire has you covered with effective Myopia treatment. We have many different treatments to provide myopia control in children. Visit us today at Eye See to start myopia control for your child.
What Is Myopia Control?
Myopia control/management refers to specific treatments used to slow down progression of myopia (AKA nearsightedness or difficulty in seeing distance) in children. MYOPIA is identified as an unnatural elongation of the eye that leads to the symptoms of nearsightedness and is classified as a medical condition/eye disease, especially in the strength of over -5 Diopters of spectacle Rx, by American College of Ophthalmology, due to the unhealthy physical changes in the eye that result from such elongation and its future consequences on the health of the eye.
If your child suffers from myopia, and its accompanying nearsightedness, do not settle for mere correction of its symptoms with single vision, distance only Spectacle correction, or even worse, undercorrection by allowing your child to "squint it out" or bring things within a few inches of their nose. It is just like taking aspirin for a headache without treating the cause of such, which can lead to the rapid and uncontrollable progression of myopia with associated visual disability and irreversible medical complications of the eye with accompanying uncorrectable vision loss. Instead, consult with our knowledgeable certified doctors and staff that know how to control the root cause of this problem. Dr. Nakhlis will provide your child with quality comprehensive pediatric eye care services that include education on and treatment for myopic progression, if necessary.
Types of Myopia Control
Atropine Eye Drops
You may have encountered atropine drops several times during an eye examination. However, in a VERY DILUTED FORMULATION of only 0.01 to 0.05% (vs standard 1%), Atropine drops can be a very effective method of reducing myopic progression. When atropine drops are placed in the eyes, it prevents the eyes from lengthening too much by relaxing the muscles that control the eye. As a result, these drops reduce myopia's advancement because myopia becomes worse with the lengthening of the eye.
Atropine drops are very convenient and easy to use, since they are only placed in the eyes in the evening before sleep, and is a great solution for younger kids with high myopia and/or rapid myopic progression, who do not yet qualify for other myopia control options either due to young age or glasses prescription criteria. The drops are very safe short and long term, based on numerous safety profile studies, are inexpensive, and have very minimal adverse reactions, such as minimal pupil dilation and occasional mild itchiness and redness of the eye. Overall, they are very well tolerated and liked by all the kids that had undergone Atropine myopia control treatment. There have been NO permanent or long lasting side effects reported from diluted atropine drops up to date.
Myopia Control Multifocal Distance Center Contact lenses
These multifocal contact lenses are made specifically for children between 6 to 12 years old. Their centers correct blurry vision while the outer parts blur the child’s side/peripheral vision. This side blurring slows the growth of the eye, limiting myopia.
These contact lenses do not help all cases. However, they work very well for some children. Similar to other contact lenses, they carry a risk of corneal infections if not cleaned properly. Ensure that your child wears them correctly and cleans them well.
Orthokeratology
Also known as Ortho-K, or corneal reshaping therapy, Orthokeratology uses rigid contact lens eye retainer that act like teeth braces for the eye to reshape the eye, after being worn for around 8 hours during sleep. These eye retainers/braces safely and effectively flatten the front surface of the eye during sleep which corrects your vision and slows down the myopic progression for about 20 hours, so that the child can excel both academically and athletically without any need for glasses or contact lenses during the daytime, while providing myopia control therapeutic effect, which addresses the ever growing concern of myopic medical eye complications.
It's a win-win situation for MOST kids (some restrictions do apply). Ortho-K eye retainer lenses require continuous use since they provide relatively short-term results (usually 1-2 days long), similar to a refractive surgery without permanent effects and complications of surgery. Once you cease wearing them, your cornea will revert back to its original shape within 1-2 weeks. But during the time that you are using Orthokeratology treatment, you are constantly receiving its priceless myopia control benefits.
The huge benefits/pros about orthokeratology as a myopia control method is that it's very effective in controlling both axial elongation of the eyeball and the refractive error myopic progression, at the same time as being a visual correction, so the child does not need to wear any correction in the daytime, which can have a very positive effects on the child's overall life and academic/athletic performance. Orthokeratology is a very safe method that carries very low likelihood of risks and is easily tolerated by a great majority of kids.
Start Your Child's Myopia Treatment at Eye See Today
Are you looking for Myopia management Therapy as a part of the nearsightedness treatment for your child? Here At Eye See in Lincolnshire, IL, we are happy to offer such therapy and many more pediatric eye and vision oriented services to your kids. We are fully committed to you and your satisfaction and believe that we have to prove to you that we are worthy of your trust, with your most priceless entity in life, which is your child. As such, within your 1 yr contract, we provide you with an unlimited number of follow up exams, assessments and necessary testing throughout the treatment process to assure accuracy and success. We are also available by phone 24/7, rain or shine, for eye emergencies, including retainer lens complications. Call us today at (847) 243-3330 to schedule your appointment with Dr. Nakhlis or one of her associates at EyeSee.
