Children's Myopia Center

What is Myopia?

Myopia, or nearsightedness, occurs when light does not focus correctly onto the retina due to the eye’s length being longer than normal. This causes blurry vision when viewing distant objects. As myopia worsens, vision worsens as well.

In order for someone with myopia to see clearly in the distance they need either corrective eyeglasses or contact lenses. Distance activities include looking out a window, seeing the blackboard, TV watching, facial recognition from across the room, catching a ball, and more.

Cause

Genetics play a role in the development of myopia. If one parent is myopic, there is a 1 in 3 chance a child will also be myopic. If both parents are myopic, the risk increases to 1 in 2. However, if neither parent is myopic, there is still a 1 in 4 chance of developing myopia.

Lifestyle factors also influence the eye’s development. Studies show that children who spend more time indoors and more time with near vision activities, such as reading, iPads, cell phones, and computers, tend to develop myopia earlier in life and to a greater extent.

Symptoms

Until they get the proper glasses, kids may squint often, get too close to watch the TV, or suffer frequent headaches.

Incidence and Epidemic

The myopia epidemic has resulted from an exponential increase in prevalence. In the 1970s, about 25% of the US population was nearsighted. Today, about 40% of the US population is nearsighted, and by 2050, it is expected that half of the world’s population – almost 5 billion people – will be myopic.

The Case for Concern

Why be concerned about myopia (nearsightedness)?

There are several reasons for concern:

1. Myopia causes visual impairment, creating a need for glasses or contact lenses to see clearly. Most cases worsen over time without timely intervention.
2. Myopia has been shown to significantly increase anxiety levels among adolescents, often leading to lower self-esteem.
3. When the eye’s length grows excessively, this is called progressive high myopia or pathologic myopia. The higher the myopia, the blurrier the vision becomes. The abnormal elongation can weaken the retina and increase the risk of cataracts, glaucoma, retinal detachment, and myopia maculopathy later in life.

Myopia Treatment

Myopia is commonly treated with spectacles or contact lenses. While this helps provide clear vision, it does not slow down the progression of myopia. Myopia is typically diagnosed in childhood and can progress until the early 20s.

Clinical research has shown that specialty soft contact lenses and prescription eye drops can significantly reduce the amount of myopia a child develops over time. Reducing progression lowers the risk of eye diseases later in life.

Our recommended treatments are based on peer-reviewed research and tailored to your child’s needs.

Advanced Technology at InVision

MCC uses advanced technology to better treat myopia, made possible through being part of a multispecialty practice at InVision.

These devices are painless and quick to perform. They include:

• Zeiss IOLMaster 700: Precisely measures your child’s eye length to a thousandth of a millimeter to assess treatment effects over time.
• Optos: Provides a wide-field retinal and optic evaluation to check the health of the back of the eye.
• Marco OPD3: Instantly analyzes the quality of your child’s optical system and shows exactly what they see without glasses or contacts.
• Pentacam: Scans the cornea in 3D to detect diseases that may mimic myopia, allowing for early treatment to prevent severe conditions such as keratoconus.

Depth of Expertise

The MCC at InVision benefits from a multidisciplinary doctor staff including:

• Retina specialists who can assess vision-threatening retinal changes from myopia.
• Glaucoma experts who can detect early glaucoma changes.
• Laser vision correction specialists who can correct myopia once a patient is 18 and their prescription has been stable for two years.