Your Huntington Beach, CA Myopia Control Specialists
Myopia or as it is commonly known, shortsighted/nearsighted is a common condition that develops in childhood. It’s a refractive error where the sufferer struggles to focus on things properly at a distance.
Progressive Myopia is when the myopia continually worsens, requiring a child to wear progressively stronger and stronger lenses.
Progressive Myopia can be dangerous. The more aggressive the progression, the higher the risks for long-term vision problems. These include:
- A substantially higher risk of cataracts along with a decreased likelihood of a positive surgery
- Double the national average for developing glaucoma
- Up to ten times the risk of retinal tears and detachment
Furthermore, a child with myopia will have changes occurring in their vision that may not be detected until the next eye exam, leaving them struggling in school during that time.
At Pacific Eye Care, we specialize in using advanced treatments to slow and even stop the progression of myopia. This drastically decreases the longterm risks to your child’s vision later down the road. Our methods also replace using daily glasses, so they can have the added benefit of improved vision and self-esteem.
Myopia is emerging as a top world health concern, with rates rising exponentially. Current research projects that there will be close to 4.5 billion people with Myopia by 2050. The risks are directly tied into the severity of the rate of progression. The faster a child’s myopia worsens, the greater the incidence rate of serious eye conditions developing in adulthood. Mild to High Myopia can be controlled! Modern treatment options exist which slow and even stop the progression altogether. This lowers the risks and leaves your child with a lower prescription than they otherwise would have had as they enter adulthood.
Who is Myopia Control For?
Myopia Control is for children and youth with Myopia, from about the age of 5 to the late teens. It is during these crucial years that Progressive Myopia continues to worsen, resulting in an increased risk that your child will suffer serious vision conditions, including vision loss later in life. In general, the earlier you start the regimen of Myopia Control, the better. This keeps the final prescription as low as possible, while simultaneously minimizing the risks down the road. The end goals is to ensure that your child sees as well as possible during the course of his or her life.
Easy Tips For Myopia control in Huntington Beach:
- Increase time spent outdoors to 2 hours per day.
- Reduce time spent on digital devices.
- Reduce time spent on near work to a healthy amount.
WHO IS AT INCREASED RISK OF DEVELOPING MYOPIA?
- Children with one or both parents with myopia.
- Children of Asian or African American decent.
- Kids that spend less than an hour outside per day.
WHAT are the long term risks of high myopia?
High Myopia increases the risk of:
- Cataracts by 500% .
- Glaucoma by 1400%.
- Retinal Detachment by 2200% .
- Myopic Maculopathy by 4100% .
How is Progressive Myopia Treated?
There are three main methods of Myopia Control being used today. The most popular method is called Ortho-k or sometimes GVSS. Ortho-k is a custom molded contact lens worn to sleep only. Much like braces they gently shape the eye. The big plus with Ortho-k is that your child will be with great vision during the day without the need for wearing glasses or contacts. Multifocal contact lenses which are designed specifically for myopia are also effective. For younger children Atropine is widely used, these eye drops are .01% of the solution used by eye doctors to dilate eyes for an eye exam, the low dosage is so there are no effects on short term vision.
OrthoK/Orthokeratology
OrthoK is a highly specialized contact lens worn while sleeping. During the night the contacts act like braces and gently reshape the eye temporarily. This reshaping dramatically slows down the progression of myopia while offering a lot of additional benefits. Our patients who come from Joplin and the four surrounding states love wearing OrthoK contact lenses. The boost to self esteem from being glasses and contact lens free and the clearer vision experienced during the day are the two most common sentiments expressed by our patients.
Atropine Eye Drops For Myopia Control
Atropine eye drops are an effective method of slowing down the progression of myopia in children. One of the benefits of Atropine is that it can be used with children who are too young or immature for contact lenses or OrthoK. Recent research is also showing that Atropine has promise when used before the child has myopia in order to reduce the likelihood of developing myopia. Research by Fang showed that administering Atropine to pre-myopic children reduced the incidence of Myopia by half. Another differentiation between atropine and soft contacts/OrthoK is the ability to combine Atropine with another form of myopia control.
Multifocal Contact Lenses for Myopia Control in Joplin
Multifocal contacts are contact lenses with different zones of power. By altering the side vision zone of the lens, the eyes adjustments cause a meaningful slow down of myopia progression. Children often begin wearing these soft contact lenses after the age of 8. In large studies with kids using contact lenses, the enthusiasm due to improved vision, self esteem, and ease of use was a common theme.
More on Ortho-K:
Overnight Vision Correction
Ortho-K Overnight Vision Correction has been shown to slow the progression of children’s nearsightedness.
Custom-fitted, gentle vision shaping contact lenses are worn while your child sleeps to temporarily reshape the cornea to improve vision during the day. Your child will be able to see clearly without the need for eyeglasses or contact lenses.
Studies show that the progression of myopia is also slowed with Ortho-K therapy.
With Ortho-K your child can enjoy all of the activities they love without having to worry about eyewear. No more broken or lost glasses, no more contact lens care and no surgery.
80% of learning is visual. Give your child the best chances for success!
Candidates for Ortho-K in Huntington Beach
Ortho-k is very suitable for nearsighted people who are not appropriate candidates for vision correction surgery, such as children. Individuals of all ages with healthy eyes can try ortho-k, namely because it can be discontinued at any point without permanent effects to the eyes.
People who require vision correction and engage regularly in sports or work in extremely dusty, dirty environments will also appreciate the convenience of ortho-k.
Vision Results from Ortho-k
Success rates for ortho-k are generally higher for more mild vision prescriptions. The ideal goal is to provide 20/20 vision without any need for eyeglasses or contacts during the day.
According to FDA trials conducted on both CRT and VST lenses, more than 65% of ortho-k patients achieved 20/20 visual acuity. A whopping number of more than 90% of ortho-k patients achieved 20/40 vision or better (this is the legal requirement for driving without vision correction in most states). Consult with your eye doctor to find out if your vision prescription is within range for successful ortho-k treatment.
Note that although improvement in vision is generally reported within a day or two of wearing ortho-k overnight, the full effects may not be experienced until the lenses are worn for a few weeks. During this transition period, your vision will probably not be as crisp as it was with regular contacts or eyeglasses, and glare or halos around lights may be visible. Until ortho-k works fully, a temporary pair of eyeglasses may be required for specific actions, such as driving at night.
How Does Ortho-k Feel?
Although some people have trouble wearing regular gas permeable contact lenses during the day, ortho-k GP lenses are worn while sleeping – so discomfort and awareness of the lenses in your eyes is generally not an issue.
Is Ortho-k expensive?
Professional fitting for ortho-k requires a series of visits to your eye doctor. A number of pairs of contact lenses are also generally needed. GP lenses that are special for ortho-k are more costly than standard contacts. In sum, the fees for ortho-k add up to a higher total than regular contact lenses.
LASIK after Ortho-k
Refractive surgeries, such as LASIK, are possible after treatment with ortho-k lenses. Yet because ortho-k works to reshape your cornea, you are required to stop wearing the lenses for approximately several months before undergoing LASIK. This allows your eyes to return to their original shape.
It’s important to inform your LASIK surgeon if you’ve been wearing ortho-k lenses, and you will be advised as to how long of a wait is necessary before having the laser procedure.
Seeing is Vital to the Quality of your Life
Eyes are important indicators of overall health, and comprehensive eye care goes beyond a prescription for glasses or contact lenses. At Pacific Eye Care, we take the time to get to know you, your eye care history, and your vision needs. Our Huntington Beach optometrists provide the expert care, advice, options, and follow up you need whether you are a new patient or an existing one.