Myopia, also known as nearsightedness, is a common refractive error leading to blurred distant vision. It happens when the eyeball grows too long, causing light to focus in front of the retina instead of directly on it.
Progressive myopia is a form of nearsightedness that worsens annually, resulting in a significant increase in the need for vision correction, often by at least half a diopter.
If you notice your child’s prescription rapidly changing, don’t hesitate to get in touch with Westpoint Optical in Brampton West. We specialize in myopia management and offer solutions to slow down or even halt the rapid progression of myopia.
Our myopia management strategies may include orthokeratology (corneal reshaping lenses), atropine eye drops, or multifocal contact lenses. These approaches aim to control the elongation of the eyeball and manage myopia effectively.
By addressing progressive myopia early on, we can potentially reduce the risks associated with high myopia, such as retinal detachment, childhood glaucoma, and macular degeneration, ensuring your child’s eye health and overall well-being in the long term.
Why Are Glasses Not A Solution?
For many years, nearsighted patients have been prescribed distance vision glasses to correct myopia. However, recent research suggests that these glasses might contribute to the worsening of myopia instead.
Glasses work by adjusting how light is focused onto the retina, improving central vision clarity. Unfortunately, they do not address peripheral vision, leading to blurred images in the outer visual field. As a result, the retina stretches out in length to compensate for this, making the eye even more nearsighted and aggravating the underlying cause of progressive myopia.
What Is Myopia Management?
Myopia management is a specialized and scientifically proven program designed to slow down or halt the progression of myopia in children and young adults. If your child’s myopia has been rapidly worsening each year, myopia management can provide effective solutions to slow down or even stop its advancement.
At Westpoint Optical in Brampton West, we prioritize your child’s eye health. Our optometrists in Brampton will conduct an eye exam for your child’s eyes and vision to develop the most suitable myopia management strategy. We understand the importance of controlling myopia progression to prevent potential vision problems in the future.
Don’t hesitate to schedule your child’s myopia consultation with us. By taking proactive steps now, we can help protect your child’s vision and improve their overall quality of life. Contact Westpoint Optical today to book an appointment and learn more about our myopia management services.
Frequently Asked Questions with our optometric team
Q : What are the effects of myopia on a child?
A : Uncorrected myopia in a child can lead to eyestrain when trying to focus on distant objects for better clarity. Additionally, it may cause headaches, tired and itchy eyes, blurred vision, and discomfort in the neck and shoulders.
Q: Why are progressive glasses not considered a treatment for myopia?
A: Progressive glasses address the issue of increasing nearsightedness by providing stronger prescriptions, but they do not target the root cause, which is the elongated shape of the eye.