Nearsightedness or myopia in children is on the rise in many developing countries. The condition causes the abnormal growth of your child’s cornea. When rays of light do not focus correctly on the retina, distant scenes appear blurry. Myopia can lead to dire vision issues like retinal detachment, glaucoma, macular degeneration, and early onset cataracts without treatment.

There are a couple ways of we recommend slowing the progression of myopia in children in Clayton at Clarity Vision. They are MiSight® and atropine drops.
 

MiSight

MiSight is a contact lens prescription that helps control the development of nearsightedness in children. They are disposable soft lenses ideal for children as young as eight years old. A child must wear them only during the day and dispose of them at night.

The lenses consist of concentric rings that control how light focuses on the retina. By redirecting light, the lens stops the cornea from elongating. They also help manage hyperopia, though they do nothing to correct astigmatism. Children should wear the lenses 10 hours daily for at least six days a week. They may need to wear them until they are teenagers.

Advantages of MiSight

MiSight lenses are easy and safe to use. They require no maintenance or cleaning, and you can replace them whenever lost. Most children with myopia find them easily adaptable and comfortable to wear. Effects of the prescription are immediate and have a low risk of infection. Your child requires few appointments when fitting them.

Disadvantages

MiSight can be detrimental to children with moderate astigmatism. Ill-fitting lenses can cause misalignment of vision zones since all of them are standard for all patients. Because your child needs to wear them during the day, it is hard to monitor their activities. Going for a swim or getting dirt in the eyes may exacerbate the condition.

Atropine Drops

Atropine drops can help children with the slowing of myopia progression but it doesn't correct vision problems. Atropine is an eye medicine in the form of an eye drop and has historically been used to enlarge the pupil but atropine can also help control myopia. There is a link between myopia and focusing fatigue, therefore using atropine can help disable the focusing mechinsim and contribue to the slowing of myopia progression.

Advantages of Atropine

Children are the primary candidate for myopia control treatments because they experience more significant benefits since their eyes are still growing and the slowing of myopia progression helps during eye development. Atropine drops are appealing because of their ease of use, requiring a small dose.

Disadvantages

Atropine drops won't necessarily correct vision, it is prescribed to slow myopia which can reduce the risk of developing ocular conditions that can cause vision problems like retinal detachment or macular degeneration.

For more on childhood myopia treatment options in Clayton, call our Clarity Vision office in Clayton at (919) 550-4801 to schedule an appointment.