Myopia is a common vision impairment that affects about 30% of Americans. Southwest Orlando Eye Care would like to go over some common questions we’ve encountered regarding myopia.
What exactly is myopia?
It is a technical term for another condition that you may have heard of called nearsightedness. It means objects that are close are clear, while objects at a distance often become distorted or not focused.
Why does myopia happen?
It is about the shape of your eyeball. Myopia happens when your cornea has too much curvature causing light to not focus properly. Studies and evidence indicates the excessive stress of focusing too close may cause myopia.
How does a pediatric eye doctor diagnose myopia?
Children give signs of eyesight issues. Tilting his or her head and squinting is a give-away that the child may have myopia. Children may also complain about not being able to see the TV or chalkboard. A pediatric optometrist will use comprehensive testing to properly diagnose myopia.
How does an optometrist treat myopia?
Children's vision therapy often includes some common tools of the trade which are available from your eye doctor.
- Eye Drops: Tropine eye drops dilate the pupil and cause relaxation, so it focuses properly. For children, putting them in at night is the best approach, because, by the time they wake up, any side effects will have dissipated.
- Contact Lenses: Special contact lenses exist with different powers to different zones. Wearing them during the day helps delay myopia progression. The multifocal contact lenses do not provide as sharp images as regular lenses or eyeglasses.
- Another type of contact lens that can be used is ortho-k. These are gas-permeable and worn at night to provide vision correction during the day.
- Eye drops & Contact Lenses: A mixture of wearing multifocal contacts during the day, along with eye drops at night, provides an effective treatment for delaying myopia.
More ways to slow the progression include:
- Increasing time spent outdoors
- Outdoor activities such as golfing, hiking, tennis, etc.
- Removing eyeglasses when not needed
- Eating healthy
- Taking multivitamins
Will myopia affect my child’s day-to-day life?
Most kids adapt to wearing glasses and contacts. But, sometimes these options do not meet the vision needs of the child. In such a situation, a change in lifestyle might be helpful such as asking your child’s teacher if he or she can move closer to the front of the class.
Southwest Orlando Eye Care in Orlando, FL
At Orlando Eye Care we strive towards the best vision care for you and your family. Do you suspect your child is dealing with myopia? Call us today at (407) 271-8931 to schedule a check-up.