myopia control
WHAT IS MYOPIA?
Myopia (or nearsightedness) is the inability to see distant objects clearly. Nearsighted individuals see better near than far. Myopia is often the result of an elongated eye, or longer axial length on average, that inaccurately focuses light in front of, rather than, on the retina. The retina is the photographic film at the back of the eye. So why is myopia a problem, besides having to wear vision correction? Higher levels of myopia are associated with a higher risk of eye disease. Longer eyes are more susceptible to the following diseases that can cause vision loss:
Myopia Control Therapy
So what are the options for reducing the natural progression of myopia that occurs as a child ages?
There are now several options for treatment like: (scroll down)
-orthokeratology
-specialized soft contact lenses
-myopia control glasses lenses like Myosmart or Jena Refocus
-atropine drops
Some of the factors that go into deciding which treatment option is best are:
-Age of the child – the younger the myopia starts, the worse it gets.
-Their current prescription – the higher it is, the higher it is likely to go
-The rate of change – if we have a history of change, we act on it accordingly.
-Family history (genetics) of myopia – if both parents are myopic and/or older siblings have myopia, the risks of progression are much higher
-The activity level and hobbies of your child – lots of reading and lack of outdoor activity is associated with greater risk
-The ease of instituting these treatments, both from a cost and adaptation will be considered for the purposes of compliance success.
Once a plan has been devised, our office can provide the necessary training/counseling and furnishing of the vision correction aids. Progress visits will be scheduled at intervals of 3 to 6 months typically to monitor and modify treatment as necessary.
TREATMENT OPTIONS
orthokeratology
orthokeratology
Hard contact lenses worn at night to reversibly shape the cornea to reduce both eye lengthening and myopic progression, while mostly eliminating day-time dependence on vision aids.
contact lenses
orthokeratology
Available in monthly or daily disposable formats, both are well-tolerated. The MiSight lens in particular is revolutionary in that it is the first successful daily disposable contact lens aimed at reducing myopia progression, and also well-tolerated in children.
BIFOCAL and progresssive GLASSES
These are best in certain cases of myopia that are accompanied by convergence excess/esophoria (bifocal lenses) or focusing/accommodation lag (bifocals with prism). A full binocular vision function assessment is performed to determine the best option for your child.
Miyosmart lenses
MiyoSmart® is an innovative spectacle lens for myopia control developed by Hoya together with its research partner, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University. Based on a two-year clinical trial results, MiyoSmart® is proven to curb myopia progression by up to 59% and halt myopia progression by 21.5% 3 with its award-winning D.I.M.S. (Defocus Incorporated Multiple Segments) technology.
atropine eye drops
These are compounded eye drops taken once nightly (not covered by Ontario Drug Benefit or most private insurance). They have shown excellent (60% and above) success at slowing myopia and axial lengthening. Side effects such as light sensitivity and difficulty focusing at near must be monitored. These are the same medications we use to perform dilated eye exams, but at a fraction of the dosage.
RISK FACTORS
Parental myopia, myopic siblings, Asian ancestry, myopia that appears before the age of 7, rigorous academic pursuits (high near visual demands) particularly at younger ages, and limited outdoor activity all can be used to predict myopia and its progression to high myopia. Patients with high degrees of myopia experience a poorer quality of life than those with low to moderate myopia. Refractive surgery can also be affected, with outcomes generally better in patients with lower prescriptions. Myopia control therapy can help change the future of your child’s myopia progression and significantly reduce the risk of future visual impairment.
screen time
screen time
screen time
- 0-2 years of age should have no screen time. Watching a screen at a young age can limit time for active play and learning, reduce opportunities for language development and inhibit their attention skills.
- Children aged 2-5 years should have a maximum of 1 hour per day. Infants, toddlers and pre-schoolers should not be inactive or sedentary for more than one hour at a time, except for sleeping. In this age group, excessive screen time is associated with less outdoor, creative and active play time; poorer language skill development; poor social skills and an increased risk of obesity.
- Children of school age (5-17 years) should be limited to 2 hours of recreational screen time per day. When using screen-based electronics, positive social interaction and experiences are encouraged. Sleep is also so important in this age group. Children aged 5-13 years should have an uninterrupted 9 to 11 hours of sleep per night and 8 to 10 hours per night for those aged 14–17 years. Consistent bed and wake-up times are very helpful, as are restricting screen time 2 hours before bed and removing screens from the bedroom where possible.
- Apply the 20-20 Rule: take a break from reading or screen time every 20 minutes for 20 seconds. He or she should look across the room to relax the focusing muscles in the eyes before commencing near viewing. This can be managed as a break between book chapters, Netflix episodes for tweens and teens, or timers set for younger children.