If you have trouble seeing faraway objects, you may have myopia. This condition may start in childhood and progress throughout adulthood. Without treatment, it can lead to sight-threatening symptoms. At Family Vision, we offer myopia control assistance for clients of all ages. While there’s no cure for nearsightedness, you can enjoy clear vision by taking proactive steps, starting with a visit to one of our eye centers in Anderson, Williamston, and Clemson, SC.
What Is Myopia Control?
There are numerous ways to treat myopia, including contact lenses, glasses, lifestyle changes, and eye drops. Our optometrist can recommend the best treatment for your myopia, including strategies to slow its progression.
Severe myopia can lead to the following conditions:
- Macular degeneration
- Retinal detachment
- Cataracts
- Glaucoma
Myopia management ranges from early diagnosis to treatment for severe conditions that develop in adulthood.
How Does Myopia Control Work?
When the eyeball is too long, it can cause nearsightedness. Myopia control may help slow the elongation of the eye from back to front. Your eyecare plan may include one or more of these methods.
Here are the most common treatments for myopia:
- Special lenses change the way your eye focuses light, allowing the retina to interpret the image. You can choose from contact lenses or eyeglasses for myopia control or wear both for greater convenience in different situations.
- Atropine eye drops may slow myopia’s progression. This is a longstanding treatment prescribed by optometrists for over a century.
- Lifestyle changes can make a big difference. Sunlight can help regulate eye growth, so spend some time outside. If you spend a lot of time staring at a computer screen or work in a job requiring close focus, take frequent breaks to preserve your vision.
What Is Orthokeratology?
Orthokeratology, or Corneal Refractive Therapy (CRT), is a nonsurgical treatment using medical devices to reshape the eye as you sleep. The devices place pressure on the surface of the eye, temporarily reshaping it. This typically results in clearer vision for an entire day.
How Can Eye Drops Help?
You can use atropine eye drops to control your myopia. They don’t cure nearsightedness but can slow the effects of the condition. If the optometrist prescribes eye drops, you’ll apply them once a day. This is a common treatment for people who wear bifocals to correct nearsightedness. Atropine also comes in an ointment. Talk to your eye doctor about which form would work best for you.
Contact Our Optometrists for Myopia Control
Our optometrists at Family Vision take myopia control seriously. If you’re looking for effective treatment for nearsightedness, you can trust us for the best vision correction available. Call our Anderson office today at (864) 226-6041, our Williamston office at (864) 847-7657, or our Clemson office at (864) 722-9205.