Myopia is the medical terminology for nearsightedness, which means you are able to see more clearly up close versus far away. Some refer to this type of vision as shortsightedness. Patients that have myopia mean their eyes are longer than average, causing the image to focus in front of the retina (back lining of the eyeball), resulting in blurred distance vision.

We strongly believe in the prevention of nearsightedness (myopia) and we offer different services to slow the progression of the condition. Dr. Morrow and team offer several forms of myopia therapy to help slow the progression of myopia. Utilizing specialty contact lenses that are designed to halt the progression of the condition in children and young adults among other treatment options for myopia control.

We evaluate each myope (person with nearsightedness) and collect data to determine which method of control is best. We offer different forms of myopia therapy to slow and even halt the progression of myopia, using spectacles, soft contact lenses, ortho-keratology, and therapeutic drops. In some instances more than one therapeutic option are employed for maximum management.

Many treatments have been effective at slowing or even stopping myopia from worsening in children. This article for parents offers a helpful overview of myopia management and recommendations.

Special spectacle lens designs have properties built into the lens technology to limit the eyes’ demand and therefore focus, which has shown to slow the increase in nearsightedness. There are new advancements in this area and some new lenses in the pipeline, so stay tuned.

MiSight® 1 Day by Cooper Vision is an FDA-approved soft contact lens that has been proven to slow the progression of nearsightedness. This contact lens is a daily disposable contact lens that works to change the focus on the retina and increasing spherical aberrations which slows elongation of the eye and slows myopia in turn.

Ortho-keratology utilizes rigid gas permeable contacts that are similar in concept to braces where they hold the glasses prescription where it is when you start the therapy to slow the progressive increase in prescription over time. By wearing these at night, the contact lenses correct the curvature of your corneas so that in the morning you can remove the lenses and see perfectly throughout the day without wearing glasses.

Pharmaceutical eye drops have been used in the treatment of myopia control therapy for many years. Therapeutic eye drops, particularly low dose Atropine, has been and continues to be comprehensively studied for its effectiveness and side effects. It has continued to show a positive impact on slowing elongation of the eye and slowing the progression of myopia with limited side effects. The main side effects of the diluted drops is large pupil size, mild light sensitivity, and mild changes in near vision, all of which can be easily addressed as needed.

Researchers have found that children who spend a couple of hours outdoors are up to four times less likely to become myopic. Our message to parents is more green time and less screen time. Outdoor activity and exercise are fantastic for visual development versus sedentary indoor activities. This reduces risk factors for myopia as well as improves eye hand coordination, spatial depth perception, and eye pursuit skills.