Myopia Management
Let’s talk about what Myopia is.
Myopia is the medical term for nearsightedness. This means a person with myopia can see near objects but is blurry on details far away. They need some form of correction to see clearly far away. The higher the myopia, the greater the blur, and the stronger the glasses or contact lenses that are needed.
When you get down to it, a myopic eyeball is too long. That’s what causes the eye to be out of focus and need glasses to see clearly again. A child with myopic progression has eye that are growing longer too quickly and ends up at a final length that is too long.
Why do we care about Myopia in our children?
Myopic children need glasses to see clearly. Having to wear correction doesn’t seem like a big deal until it is. A child with a mild prescription may only need to wear glasses when they eventually end up driving, but a child with a higher prescription must wear their glasses or contacts. They cannot function without it, and so quality of life is affected. A child’s future is affected too. A child’s visual impairment can put certain career dreams out of reach.
From a health standpoint, myopia increases a child’s risk of developing certain eye conditions, such as retinal detachments, glaucoma, and macular degeneration. With each increase in diopter of myopia (diopters are how eye prescriptions are measured), there is an exponential increase in risk of these eye diseases. Contrary to what many think, these diseases are not exclusive to old age. Young people are also having retinal detachments, glaucoma, macular degeneration, and cataracts.
Myopia is on the rise. We are seeing it now, with twice as many myopic children in the classroom as there were twenty years ago. By 2050, 50% of the world’s population is expected to be myopic. That’s almost five billion nearsighted people. It’s time to flatten the myopia curve.
What is Myopia Management?
Historically, there was no treatment for myopia. A child’s myopia would increase every year until their vision stabilized in adulthood, with the associated inconveniences and health risks.
But now, we are able to treat myopia!
There are currently three research-backed methods available in the US to treat progression in children aged 6-18. There are specialized contacts that can be worn overnight, called ortho-keratology lenses, that stop myopic progression and allow a child to be glasses-free during the daytime. There is low-dose atropine, which is a specially compounded eyedrop that has also been proven to stop progression. And finally, there are dual focus daytime contacts where the design specifically halts myopic progression.
We are happy to introduce our Myopia Management program!
All three treatments are available here at Focal Point Eyecare Institute of Myopia Management. Each child starts with a consultation to assess their personal risk factors for myopic progression and to tailor the treatment for each child. Once the treatment is decided, parents enroll their child into the appropriate myopia management program. Our all-inclusive programs provide all the equipment and supplies needed for successful treatment and includes all necessary visits, with no additional fees.
Ortho-keratology (Ortho-K)/Corneal Reshaping Lenses (CRTs)
Ortho-keratology is therapy in myopia management involving custom gas permeable lenses that are worn overnight. The lenses will reshape the corneas of your child’s eyes as they sleep. This alters the focus of your child’s eyes to help halt myopic progression. Also, your child may have clear vision without the need for contacts or glasses during the day!
Atropine Eye Drops
Atropine therapy is an option in myopia management involving prescription atropine drops to alter the focus of your child’s eyes to help manage myopia. Atropine also affects the growth of your child’s eyes so that their eyes stop changing.
Dual Focused Soft Lenses
Dual Focal Soft Daily Disposable Soft (Hydrophilic) Contact Lenses are indicated for daily wear for the correction of myopia. The lenses alter the focus of your child’s eyes to help halt myopic progression. Currently, the FDA-approved brand available in the US is the Misight Daily lenses by from Coopervision. These lenses also offer a TripleTear™ Lubrication System. Three lubricants work together to help lock in moisture, so your contacts feel clean and comfortable every day you wear them.
What’s Included in the Program?
Your child’s first visit for our Myopia Management programs is a consultation. The consultation is $99 and will be credited to your total fees for the myopia management program if you decide to participate in the program for the full year. The program starts at $225/month for the first year (total $2700). The set up fees include access to all three lines of treatment for your child and all necessary visits to the office to make sure your treatment is effective in managing myopia.
If at any time your child needs to switch to a different treatment, there is no additional cost. As your child begins their second year, discounts will be applied depending on your child’s progress. Please ask our front desk if there are any current promotions for first-time patients.
For Ortho K this includes two pairs of lenses (to alternate or for backup in case one pair gets lost or damaged, one year supply of the lens care system. For Atropine this includes dosages altered as necessary, one year supply of atropine drops shipped directly to your home (shipped monthly), and one pair of glasses to address any potential side effects from the drops. For Dual Focus lenses a one year supply of soft lenses 720 lenses is included, as well as short term supply of the lens care system for any miscellaneous needs.
For all patients we include lifestyle coaching to reinforce myopia management therapies. We also provide discounts on any additional miscellaneous eyewear. Additional terms and conditions will be discussed at your child’s Myopia Management consultation to determine which treatment is right for your child and your family.
What happens AFTER my child graduates from Myopia Management?
Your child’s eyes will stabilize and stop growing between the late teens to early twenties and your child can graduate from our Myopia Management program. Our goal is not to reverse the process of myopia, but to stop the progression in place. For our Ortho-K patients, their corneas will slowly return to their natural shape if they discontinue night-time lens wear. As long as your (grown) child maintains their night-time routine with their lenses, they will wake up with clear vision during the daytime. Because it is a reversible treatment, corneal reshaping therapy allows your child to explore other options for vision correction in their adult life, including laser eye surgery. There are also options for transitioning into Ortho-K lenses for adult life. This is something our doctor and staff can discuss with you at the end of your program.
