Can Myopia Lead to Blindness?

In extreme circumstances, myopia can lead to serious vision-threatening complications, including blindness. This occurs primarily in cases where high myopia has reached an advanced stage called degenerative myopia.

What is Progressive Myopia?

Progressive myopia is nearsightedness that continues to worsen year after year. This progression can result in severe myopia, also called high myopia, that may be associated with potentially serious side effects.

Currently, there is no cure for myopia. But myopia management methods like Ortho-K, multifocal contact lenses and atropine eye drops can slow its progression.

Myopia Management at Premier Vision Clinic

Myopia, or nearsightedness, is common in children. Distant objects appear blurry, while close ones are clear. This refractive error occurs when the eye’s shape causes light rays to bend (refract) incorrectly, focusing images in front of the retina instead of on it. Addressing myopia in children early is crucial as it can impact various areas of their lives, including school, sports, and relationships with their peers.

The prevalence of myopia is increasing globally, making it a significant concern for eye health professionals. Experts attribute this trend in part to changes in lifestyle, such as increased screen time.

Early detection and management of myopia help control its progression and reduce the risks of developing other eye health complications later in life.

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Delving into the Causes of Myopia

Myopia occurs when the eyeball is too long or the cornea—the eye's outer layer—is too curved. This structural irregularity causes light rays to focus in front of the retina, blurring distant vision. Typical symptoms of myopia include:

Blurred Vision: Struggling to see distant objects clearly, essential for tasks like classroom learning.
Sitting Close to Screens: Children with myopia often sit unusually close to televisions or bring digital devices near their eyes to see clearly.
Squinting: Frequently squinting to see distant objects is a common symptom, as it may temporarily sharpen vision by reducing the eye's exposure to light.
Eyestrain: Discomfort or fatigue in the eyes, often after prolonged reading or screen use.
Headaches: Frequent headaches from the strain of trying to focus on blurred images.

Risk Factors for Developing Myopia
Several factors increase the risk of developing myopia, including:

Genetics: There is a higher likelihood if one or both parents are myopic.
Environmental Influences: Limited outdoor activity and excessive close work like reading or using digital devices.
Age of Onset: Typically begins in school-aged children and progresses until the late teens or early adulthood.

Myopia Treatment in Clive

At Premier Vision Clinic, we aim to help slow or halt myopia’s progression through advanced management strategies. These strategies are essential, as higher degrees of myopia significantly increase the risk of severe eye diseases like glaucoma and macular degeneration.

Our approach involves creating personalized treatment plans tailored to each child's needs. We focus on educating parents and providing ongoing support to ensure the best outcomes for managing myopia.

Treatment options include orthokeratology (ortho-k) contact lenses, specially designed soft contact lenses, and pharmacological interventions. We offer all three options to our patients. Below is a detailed explanation of each option:

MiSight Soft Contact Lenses: Daily Wear for Myopia Control

MiSight soft contact lenses, developed by CooperVision, represent a breakthrough in myopia control for children. These are the only FDA-approved contact lenses designed to slow myopia progression in children aged 8 to 12 at the start of treatment. MiSight lenses are worn during the day and discarded nightly, offering a convenient and effective alternative to glasses.

Ortho-K: Nightly Vision Correction

Orthokeratology, commonly known as ortho-k or corneal refractive therapy (CRT), is a non-surgical approach to improving vision through specially designed contact lenses. These lenses are worn overnight and temporarily reshape the cornea—the eye’s front surface—to correct mild to moderate nearsightedness.

Atropine Eye Drops: Non-Invasive Myopia Management

Atropine eye drops are another effective tool in the arsenal against myopia progression. They utilize a very low-dose formulation to minimize side effects while effectively slowing the development of myopia. Although not yet FDA-approved for myopia control in the U.S., atropine therapy is widely recognized for its benefits based on substantial clinical research.

The lenses' design focuses on providing clear vision while also employing a treatment zone that helps control the elongation of the eyeball, a critical factor in myopia progression. Clinical studies recommend wearing these lenses for a minimum of 10 hours per day, at least six days a week, to achieve optimal effectiveness.

Upon waking, you can remove the lenses and enjoy clear vision throughout the day without needing glasses or contact lenses. During the initial adaptation phase, vision may fluctuate, and you may need backup glasses. Ortho-K lenses are custom-fitted and require annual evaluations to maintain effectiveness and limit myopia progression.

These drops are administered nightly and work by temporarily relaxing the eye’s focusing mechanism, which helps control myopic progression. While atropine eye drops are considered off-label, they are well-tolerated and have minimal impact on pupil size or near vision at low concentrations (0.01%). Specialized compounding pharmacies typically fill prescriptions for atropine, as the drops need to be custom-prepared for each patient.

These innovative myopia treatments at Premier Vision Clinic are part of our comprehensive approach to managing myopia, aiming to preserve children's vision and improve their overall quality of life. We offer detailed consultations for families interested in exploring these options to discuss the best course of action based on each child's specific needs and lifestyle.

Protect Your Child’s Long-Term Vision with Us

If your child is experiencing rapid vision changes or if you’re concerned about nearsightedness, don’t hesitate to contact Premier Vision Clinic. Early management is vital to effective treatment and can significantly enhance your child’s quality of life.

Visit us at Premier Vision Clinic to learn more about our personalized approach to managing myopia in Clive. Our dedicated team is here to guide you through every step of the process, ensuring that your family receives the highest standard of eye care available.

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