• 284 Mud St W, Hamilton, ON L8J 3Z6, Canada
  • Mon & Wed (11am – 6pm)
  • Tue, Thu, Fri (11am - 7pm)
  • Saturday (10am - 4pm)
Facebook-f Instagram

Email us

office@iseeeyecareoptometry.com

Call us now

(905) 573-9999

Make an Appointment
Appointment

Myopia Management

Myopia Management Specialist

Myopia Control

Myopia is the inability to see far (nearsightedness), and it is due to an eye that is longer than normal from the front to the back, or the cornea (the clear window at the front of the eye) is too steeply curved. Usually myopia is corrected with glasses, contact lenses or surgery in some cases.

Myopia is a growing concern all around the world, children should be treated young and encouraged to go outside and use screens as little as possible.

Myopia prevalence is increasing around the world at an alarming rate. If present trends continue, 50% of the world’s population is predicted to be myopic by 2050. The prevalence of myopia in North America has increased 50% over the last two decades. Among Canadian school children aged 11-13, almost 30% are myopic. In Asian countries, the prevalence is reaching epidemic proportions with 70% to 80% of teenagers being myopic.

Myopic eyes result in excessive eye length making increasing risks of developing ocular pathologies, such as myopic macular degeneration, retinal holes that can lead to a retinal detachment, glaucoma, and cataract, which increases significantly with an increasing magnitude of myopia. If left untreated, Myopia, might progress into high myopia (>6 diopters)

The incidence of myopia is expected to increase significantly as lifestyles change, with children taking part in more near-focused activities like using digital devices, studying, and reading, and spending less time outdoors. Hereditary, behavioural, and environmental factors also play a part in it.

Treatments for Myopia Control

Treatments for Myopia Control

Several clinical methods are currently used for myopia control in children, studies have demonstrated a decrease in progression of approximately 50-60% with different treatments. 

These treatments include:

  1. Atropine eye drops in low concentrations to minimize side effects (daily use for many years) this treatment has the disadvantage of a drop used daily, side effects are blurry vision induced by the pupillary dilation and photophobia.
  2. Soft contact lenses can be used during the day, risk of eye infections is increased, and parents and children need to learn how to manipulate the contact lenses.
  3. Orthokeratology also known as Ortho-K (this is RGP or rigid gas permeable contact lenses), the RGP is used overnight to flatten the cornea during the night, the vision can be improved during the day, the risk of eye infections and more follow up visits are required with this treatment, slows the progression around 50%.
  4. Progressive addition spectacles (PALs), and bifocal and prismatic bifocal spectacles. These lenses have been tried but the effect is not as good as other treatment options and there are adaptation problems.
  5. Myopia Control Spectacle Lenses:  there’s a new type of lens that uses a technology that allows a change in the focus of the images in the eye causing a myopic defocus and slow down the progression of myopia and the eye elongation.


In our office we offer the following options for Myopia control:

  1. Myopia Control Spectacle Lenses
  2. Atropine drops
  3. Soft contact lenses

Myopia Management Specialist

What is myopia?

Myopia is blurry long-distance vision, often called “short-sighted’’ or “near-sighted”. A person with myopia can see clearly up close – when reading a book or looking at a phone – but words and objects look fuzzy on a blackboard, on television or when driving. But a pair of glasses aren’t the whole story.

The prevalence among Australian 12 year olds has doubled in 6 years. Myopia in kids tends to progress or get worse throughout childhood, and higher levels of myopia are associated with higher eye disease risks in adulthood. If your child already wears glasses, you can do something to stop their vision worsening. If they don’t you can assess their risk of developing myopia.

Myopia occurs when the eyeball grows too quickly in childhood, or starts growing again in adulthood

Childhood onset myopia is most commonly caused by the eyes growing too quickly, or continuing to grow after age 10-12 when eye growth should normally cease. Genetics, environment and the individual’s characteristics can all contribute to this excess growth

In younger children, myopia progresses more quickly because their eyes are growing at a faster rate, leading to higher levels of myopia, stronger glasses and more eye health risks

Adult onset myopia usually occurs as an adaptation to fatigued eye focusing muscles due to a significant increase in close work, such as university studies

Why should I be concerned?

Myopia is becoming more common in children around the world – the prevalence among Australian 12-year-olds doubled between 2005 and 2011

The average age for developing myopia is reducing – younger onset means faster and more eye growth, which increases likelihood of high myopia and higher risk of eye diseases such as the following:

Retinal detachment – the light sensitive ‘film’ lining the back of the eye pulls away from its base, causing distorted vision or blindness depending on its location

Myopic macular degeneration – loss of central vision clarity, like having a thick smudge permanently in the middle of your vision

Glaucoma – increased pressure in the eye which damages peripheral vision, called the ‘sneak thief of sight’ as very few people who have it notice its symptoms until it is very advanced

Cataract – a cloudy window in the middle of the eye, like looking through a foggy windscreen

The average cost of glasses or contact lenses amounts over lifetime for a myopic person is likely to be in excess of $50,000. Higher myopia reduces quality of life and is more costly to correct with glasses and contact lenses

What causes myopia?

Spending more time on close work has been linked to development of myopia, such as reading, playing computer games, drawing or using smart phones and tablets

Electronic hand held devices are easy for toddlers to use resulting in increased exposure to close work at a younger age

Myopia can be hereditary, and a person’s ethnicity and family background can increase the risk

Research suggests a link between Asian ethnicity and faster progression of myopia, with higher worldwide prevalence in this group of people

A person with one short-sighted parent has three times the risk of developing myopia – or six times the risk if both parents are short-sighted

Some studies show that children are more likely to be short-sighted if their parents finished high school or went to university

Under or over-corrected vision (incorrect glasses, or having no glasses when they are needed) has been shown to promote onset and accelerate progression of myopia

How can I prevent or slow myopia?

Catching early signs of myopia before it fully develops can help slow onset and progression

Children should not spend more than three hours a day – in addition to school time – on close work such as reading, homework or screen-time

When using a computer, ensure it is properly positioned to avoid eye strain and take breaks every 20 minutes by looking across the room for 20 seconds

Smart phones are popular for children and teenagers’ texting, social media, reading and games - but too much screen time is linked to myopia, can cause dry eyes, and increase risk of eye damage and diseases in adulthood similar to UV damage

The blue-white bright light from tablets and phones can damage long-term eye health and affect sleep – while there are no guidelines yet on how much to limit a child’s overall time spent on screens, these devices should be avoided by children and adults for three hours before bedtime

Outdoor sport and play of at least 90 minutes a day can reduce the risk of myopia – looking at your tablet or phone when outside doesn’t count!

There is evidence to suggest that exposure to outdoor light is beneficial in slowing onset and progression of myopia – but UV protection is still important so wear sunglasses and a hat

My child is already myopic!

Specialty contact lens designs and orthokeratology currently offer the best vision correction options to slow progression of myopia

Research has shown that specially designed glasses lenses are effective at slowing progression of myopia, though not to the same degree as contact lenses, and only for particular individuals with eye muscle teaming problems

Atropine eye drops have been shown to slow progression of myopia and their use is gaining popularity

WHAT WE OFFER

WE OFFER A COMPLETE

RANGE OF EYE CARE SERVICES

Book an Appointment

We are dedicated to going above and beyond in ensuring that you receive the highest quality care available.

Facebook-f Instagram

Useful Links

Our Services

Get In Touch

  • 284 Mud St W, Hamilton, ON L8J 3Z6, Canada
  • (905) 573-9999
  • office@iseeeyecareoptometry.com
  • Mon & Wed (11am – 6pm)
  • Tue, Thu, Friday (11am - 7pm)
  • Saturday - (10am - 4pm)
  • Sunday - (Closed)