At Northland Eye Care, we believe in staying ahead of vision challenges and not just correcting them after they become apparent or worsen. One of these challenges can be Myopia (nearsightedness), which tends to more often progress during childhood. This disease can serve to increase the risk of future eye health problems. We are committed to keeping you and your child’s eyes healthy, and that is why we offer advanced comprehensive eye exams and contact lenses. These are great deterrents against nearsightedness, as one treats it and the other can help manage and negate it.
Why Myopia Control Matters
Myopia is primarily a disease that can cause changes in the length of the eyeball. This change usually causes light to reflect worse in the eye, making images blurry or hard to see. Other risks could include those of retinal detachment, glaucoma, and other vision complications later in life. Interventions in early life can help reduce how far the prescription worsens. At Northland Eye Care, we offer comprehensive eye exams for your children, using MYAH technology to accurately measure eye growth and tailor treatment plans focused on slowing progression.
By assessing axial length and eye growth, we can adapt strategies year by year and choose the lens type that offers the best efficacy and comfort.
Orthokeratology (Ortho-K): Nighttime Reshaping
One of the myopia control methods we support are contact lenses. Out of these, the best suited for dealing with Myopia are Ortho-K (orthokeratology) lenses. These specialty rigid lenses are worn overnight to gently reshape the cornea. During the day, your child can have clearer vision without glasses or contacts.
Ortho-K can be especially useful for children who prefer lens-free vision during sports or school hours. It is a good option for combating mild to moderate myopia, and can allow for less dependence on glasses or the like later on.
Another option we offer in this category is called Coopervision MySight. These are lenses that are made from a more flexible, water-containing plastic material that can change to match the shape of your eyes. They are made in different kinds for daily, extended, or disposable wear. These contact lenses are great for people with mild to moderate myopia, providing vision correction while being much more comfortable to wear than regular lenses.
Choosing the Right Lens for Your Child
We don’t believe in one-size-fits-all. To choose the best option, we can work to consider:
- The child’s prescription and speed of myopia progression.
- Their lifestyle regarding sports, activities, and how they may respond to the comfort of overnight lenses.
- Eye health and corneal shape. Does your child need specially fitted lenses?
Because we measure eye growth and monitor progress carefully, we can assess which treatments are working and make adjustments over time. Our goal is to reduce nearsightedness in your child as much as possible, trying to stay off the progression while maintaining comfortable, usable vision.
Long-Term Benefits for Your Child
With our help, your child could experience clearer vision, and a much slower progression in eye problems that could reduce the overall final prescription they may need in adulthood. Regarding myopia specifically, we can ensure less axial elongation, which means risk for eye health complications later in life. Our treatments can allow for more freedom during the day (especially with Ortho-K) without glasses, with a proactive approach that gives you more control over your child’s vision outcomes and health.
With our wide range of experience and expertise, we can work with you to provide long-term monitoring and support so that your child’s vision is protected and cared for in the years to come.
Ready to Act on Myopia Control?
At Northland Eye Care, we’re committed to using evidence-based technology and personalized care to help protect your child’s vision for life. If your child is developing nearsightedness, or if you’re already seeing changes in their vision, now is a great time to talk about myopia control. By working with us, you are working to ensure that your child will grow up to have as healthy a vision as they possibly can. Book your child’s exam today and let us guide you through myopia control options with confidence.