When myopia, also called nearsightedness, is present in a child, there are myopia control methods that can be used to help. When your child has myopia, it's a good idea to discuss myopia control with an optometrist to find out whether it's right for your child. Myopia control is used to slow or stop the progression of a child's myopia so that it doesn't get as bad as it would naturally. When you need an optometry center in Clinton, CT, Clinton Eye Associates are ready to assist you.
Atropine Drops
When an optometrist uses myopia control methods, they often start with atropine drops because they are so easy to administer. This is a kind of eye drop that is available by prescription, and it is administered every night to the child at bedtime. This medicated eye drop is the same medication that is used to dilate the eyes but at a different dosage. When the drops are used consistently, they can slow down or even stop myopia's progression. In children, myopia often progresses rapidly, so slowing it down can have good results by the time they are adults.
Ortho-K Contact Lenses
Another type of myopia contort that an optometrist may try is to have the child use ortho-k contact lenses. They are a specialty type of lens that is worn only at night. During this time, these contact lenses will gently reshape the eye. When kids wear these at night, they typically have their eye shape corrected so well that they don't need to wear their glasses anymore during the day. This effect is only there while the contacts are being used consistently every night. If the child eventually stops wearing them, they will have to wear glasses again, but their myopia won't be as bad as it would have been.
See an Optometrist in Clinton, CT
Call Clinton Eye Associates today at (860) 669-2020 for more information or to schedule an appointment with our eye doctor.
Dr. Ostrom is the only Optometrist in Connecticut who is a Fellow of the International Academy of Orthokeratology and Myopia Control. Clinton Eye Associates has the oldest and largest Myopia Control clinic in Connecticut, with over twenty years of experience. Dr. Ostrom has lectured at international conferences on myopia control has mentored other doctors all over the world in the methods of orthokeratology.