Myopia, also known as nearsightedness, is a common eye condition that makes distant objects look blurry while close objects stay clear. Estimates show that over 40% of people in the U.S. are nearsighted, and this rate is increasing quickly, particularly among school-aged children.¹
If your child has myopia, you may be wondering if it’ll get worse with time. In this blog, we’ll discuss what myopia is, when it typically stops progressing, and how to manage it effectively with myopia management.
What is myopia?
Myopia happens when the eyeball is too long or the cornea is too curved, causing light to focus in front of the retina instead of directly on it, leading to blurry distance vision. While the exact cause of myopia is still being studied, it’s believed that both genetics and the environment contribute to it.
Parents with myopia are more likely to have kids who also develop the condition. Also, factors like too much close-up work, not spending enough time outdoors, and an unhealthy diet can contribute to myopia.
When does myopia stop progressing?
Myopia typically starts in childhood or the teenage years and tends to stabilize between the ages of 20 and 30. Once it stabilizes, it’s unlikely to worsen significantly as you get older. However, in some cases, myopia might still get worse during adulthood, leading to a higher risk of developing eye diseases such as glaucoma, cataracts, and retinal detachment. Some factors, like having a higher initial prescription or a family history of myopia, may increase the chances of progression in adulthood.
How to effectively manage myopia
Although myopia typically slows down and eventually stabilizes, it’s still crucial to monitor the condition throughout your child’s life to catch any vision changes and prevent possible complications. At Vision Salon Eye Care Associates, we specialize in myopia control and offer a variety of treatment options.
While traditional contact lenses and glasses can restore clear vision, they won’t keep your child’s vision from worsening as they grow. Myopia management is a proactive approach to slowing down nearsightedness progression and protecting your child’s future eye health. Our eye doctors may recommend the following solutions for managing myopia:
Special contact lenses
Orthokeratology (ortho-k) lenses are specially designed rigid gas permeable contact lenses that reshape the cornea overnight. This reshaping temporarily corrects myopia and can reduce the progression of the condition. Multifocal contact lenses can also be used to manage myopia. These lenses have different prescriptions in different zones of the lens that allow for clear vision at multiple distances.
MiSight contact lenses
MiSight 1 day contact lenses are daily disposable soft lenses designed specifically to help manage myopia in kids. These FDA-approved* lenses are proven to slow myopia progression in children ages 8–12 at the start of treatment.
With MiSight, kids can enjoy clear, comfortable vision while keeping their myopia from getting worse. They may also help lower the risk of serious eye problems down the road.
Protect your child’s future eyesight
Even though myopia usually slows and stops as we get older, it’s still important to take care of your child’s eyes and manage any changes. At Vision Salon Eye Care Associates, we offer a range of treatment options to help reduce strain and slow the progression of myopia.
If you have any concerns about your vision or are looking for myopia management for your child, schedule an appointment with us to learn more.
References:
*FDA-approved to slow the progression of myopia in children.
