Myopia Control in Kids

The eyesight of our future generations is important to us. We want them to see the world clearly and be able to enjoy the beauty around them. Myopia, or nearsightedness, is a refractive error of the eye that causes distant objects to appear blurred. At Advanced Family Eye Care, we are here to offer myopia control for children in St. Joseph, MI, South Haven, MI, Benton Harbor, MI, and Stevensville, MI. Here's what you need to know.

What Causes Myopia?

Myopia (being nearsighted) occurs when the eyeball is too long or the cornea, the clear front surface of the eye, has too much curvature. This causes light rays to bend (refract) incorrectly, resulting in a blurred image. Myopia usually develops during childhood and adolescence and continues to progress until adulthood.

There are several risk factors that may increase the likelihood of developing myopia:

Family history: Myopia tends to run in families, so kids who have parents or grandparents with myopia are more likely to develop the condition.

Race: Myopia is more common in certain ethnic groups, such as Asians.

Age: Children and teenagers are more likely to develop myopia than adults. This is because the eyeball continues to grow during these years.

What Are the Complications of Myopia (Being Nearsighted)?

If left untreated, myopia can lead to several complications, such as:

Glaucoma: This is a condition that damages the optic nerve, which carries images from your eyes to your brain, due to pressure in the eye. Glaucoma can lead to vision loss and even blindness.

Cataracts: This is a clouding of the eye's lens, which affects your vision.

Retinal detachment: This is when the retina, a layer of tissue at the back of the eye, becomes separated from the rest of the eye. Retinal detachment can lead to vision loss or even blindness.

What Is Myopia Control?

Myopia control is a treatment option that slows the progression of myopia in children. There are several different types, such as:

Ortho-k: This is a type of contact lens that gently reshapes the cornea while you sleep. This helps to slow down the progression of myopia.

Atropine eye drops: These help to relax the muscles in the eye and slow down the progression of myopia.

Visit Us for an Eye Exam from an Optometrist on Our Team

If you're concerned about your child's vision, be sure to schedule an eye exam with an optometrist on our team. We at Advanced Family Eye Care are here to offer our services for kids in St. Joseph, MI, South Haven, MI, Benton Harbor, MI, and Stevensville, MI. Call us at (844) 398-4022.