• (512) 528-5528
  • info@spanishoakseyecare.com

Myopia Control

Worried about your child's eyes getting worse?

Our Myopia Control Center provides the latest treatments that can slow or stop the worsening of myopia in children. Addressing your child’s myopia now may reduce the chance that they will develop sight-threatening complications later in life. Children who develop myopia earlier on and those who have large amounts of myopia are more likely to need treatment. We offer specialized treatment options that work to slow the eye growth underlying myopia.

Why Myopia Control?

Myopia progresses fastest in younger children, especially those under age 10. This means that the most important opportunity to slow eye growth is when children are younger. Myopia control aims to apply specific treatments to slow the excessive eye growth to a lesser rate. Experts agree that myopia management should be started for all children under age 12, and typically continue into the late teens.

The short-term benefit of slowing myopia progression is that a child’s prescription will change less quickly, giving them clearer vision for longer between eye examinations. Lower prescription numbers also mean: Thinner lenses and better quality of life. The long-term benefit is reducing the lifetime risk of eye disease and vision impairment. This risk increases as myopia does with the good news being that reducing the final level of myopia by only 1 diopter reduces the lifetime risk of myopic macular degeneration by 40% and the risk of vision impairment by 20%.

Why is axial length so important in Myopia Control?

A patient’s prescription is NOT the best way to determine the best route for treatment. It is also NOT the best way to monitor progression.

Example: Julie – who has a higher prescription – is actually at a lower risk for high myopia than her brother Julien – who has almost half the prescription of Julie. This is due to their axial length (length of their eyes). Julien’s axial length put him in the 90th percentile for developing high myopia whereas Julie was in the ~ 60th percentile. Any child who is at or above 50th percentile must start treatment; however, Atropine eye drops will most likely be enough to control their myopia. For children in the higher percentiles, orthokeratology would be ideal. They may also need combination therapy with added Atropine. 

What are the treatment options for slowing myopia progression

Standard, single vision glasses or contact lenses do not slow down the worsening of childhood myopia. Instead, specific types of spectacles, contact lenses (specialty soft lenses and orthokeratology lenses) and eye drops called Atropine have been proven to slow myopia progression in children.

The best option for your child will depend on their current prescription and other vision and eye health factors determined in their eye examination. Dr. Miller will discuss the options with you to determine the best option.  It is important to note that no treatment can promise the ability to stop myopia progression in children, only to slow it down.

Ortho-k

Specialty overnight contact lenses that studies have proven to slow down the progression of myopia.

Specialty soft contact lenses

Unique use of specially designed soft contact lenses that reduce the risk of myopic progression.

Atropine Eye Drops

Use of low dose atropine eye drops have also been proven effective in slowing down the progression of myopia

Specialty eyeglasses

Specially designed eyeglass lenses that have shown to reduce the rate of myopic progression. Often used when there is also an imbalance in eye muscle coordination.

Contact lenses: Orthokeratology overnight lenses and soft myopia controlling contact lenses.

Standard single-vision contact lenses do not slow the worsening of childhood myopia but specific designs do. These specific designs can both correct the blurred vision of myopia and work to slow down myopia progression. The options include soft myopia controlling contact lenses and orthokeratology (ortho-k).

Risks and safety
Contact lens wear increases the risk of eye infection compared to wearing spectacles, with the risks being:

• 1 per 1,000 wearers per year for reusable soft contact lenses or overnight orthokeratology lenses9,10
• 1 per 5,000 wearers per year for daily disposable soft contact lenses

Risk factors for eye infection include not washing hands, not using the correct cleaning solutions, water exposure and not returning for regular eye examinations. With proper hygiene and maintenance procedures, this risk can be well managed. Other side effects of contact lenses to control myopia can be temporary adaptation to the different experience of vision, which typically resolves in 1-2 weeks.

Benefits
There are many benefits to children wearing contact lenses: 

1. Wearing contact lenses improves children’s self confidence in school and sport, and their satisfaction with their vision – as much as it does for teens

2. Children aged 8-12 years appear to be safer contact lens wearers than teens and adults, with a lower risk of eye infection

OPTION 1: orthokeratology contact lenses

Worn overnight and removed upon waking, such that no spectacles or contact lenses are required for clear vision during the day. They can require more appointments for fitting than other types of myopia control treatment. Adaptation to the lens-on-eye feeling can take 1-2 weeks but shouldn’t affect sleep. There are significant benefits for sports and active lifestyles, and since the contact lenses are only worn at home there is low risk of them being lost or broken during wear.

OPTION 2: Soft myopia controlling lenses

Worn during waking hours. They may be daily disposable, or reusable for up to a month. They typically require more appointments for fitting than spectacles but less than orthokeratology. Adaptation to the lens-on-eye feeling typically occurs in a few days. There are benefits in safety with daily disposables being the safest modality, and the number of lenses retained meaning loss or breakage is less of a practical issue.

Atropine eye drops

Atropine is an eye drop that is used to dilate pupils and has proven to be effective in controlling myopia. In a diluted strength, Atropine has shown to be effective at controlling myopia without being strong enough to actually dilate the pupil. It is important to note that contact lenses or glasses are still required to correct blurry vision when using Atropine eye drops.

Risks and safety
The risks and side effects of atropine are as follows:
• Potential side effects of increased sensitivity to light due to larger pupil size, which is typically resolved with light-sensitive glasses or sunglasses. One study found around a third of children requested these types of glasses, but this was the case even in the placebo (untreated) group.

• Problems with close-up focussing, which is typically resolved with glasses providing a stronger power for reading. One study found this only occurred in 1-2% of children treated with low-concentration atropine.
• Eye irritation or mild allergy, which can occur in 2-7% although this can depend on the formulation of the atropine.
Atropine can be toxic and even fatal to small children if it is ingested in high quantities by mouth, but high quantity absorption via the eye is unlikely. Medication safety in the home is extremely important.

Benefits
Atropine eye drops are typically used at night time, before sleep, so are only utilized in the home environment. They are also ideal if the effective spectacle or contact lens options for myopia control are not suitable or not available for your child.

Specialty Glasses

Standard single-focus spectacles do not slow the worsening of childhood myopia but specific designs do. Myopia controlling spectacles can both correct the blurred vision of myopia and work to slow down myopia progression. They are safe to wear and adaptation is typically easy, with the only side effects being related to the limitations spectacles pose for sport and active lifestyles.

Phone: (512) 528-5528
Email: info@spanishoakseyecare.com 

Address: 13625 Ronald Reagan Blvd

Bldg 8, Ste 200

Cedar Park, TX 78613

Hours:
Monday – Friday 9 am – 5 pm

Closed daily 12 to 1 for lunch

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13625 Ronald Reagan Blvd, Bldg 8, Ste 200, Cedar Park TX 78613