Myopia (Nearsighted) Control in
It may be possible to slow or stop the progression of your child’s nearsightedness.
This topic is so important, it deserves a page all its own. Myopia, commonly known as nearsightedness, is on the rise worldwide. In the United States alone, up to 50% of children are now myopic.
You may be asking yourself: “So what? My child just needs to wear her glasses, right?” The reality is there are significant eye problems that are sometimes associated with myopia, such as cataracts, glaucoma, and more. So it’s not something to be ignored.
Currently, there is no cure for myopia. But there are treatments, including orthokeratology (ortho-k). This non-invasive, non-surgical procedure allows for clear vision during the day without the need for daytime glasses or contacts and can even slow or stop the progression of nearsightedness.
If your child’s prescription changes yearly, ortho-k may be an option. The treatment provides the most benefit while your child’s prescription is still low, so don’t hesitate to ask Dr. Kaminski at Vision Source Firestone if ortho-k is right for your child.
Call (303) 772-2755 or schedule an appointment online.
More About Myopia
The hallmark symptom of myopia is being able to see close objects well but having trouble seeing things that are far away. Distant objects, such as street signs, classroom whiteboards, and even people’s faces, will appear blurry. Other symptoms may include headaches and eye fatigue.
Why does this happen? Research shows that this refractive error (a disruption in the way light normally enters the eye) occurs due to an elongation of the eyeball or a change in the shape of the cornea (the clear outer “window” of the eye), or both. Effectively, these changes cause light to focus not directly on the retina (the light-sensitive tissue on the inside of the back of the eye) but instead somewhere in front of it.
Genetics are thought to play a major role. However, given the rising prevalence of nearsightedness among children, lifestyle and environmental factors (namely, spending more time indoors on smartphones, laptops, and tablets) are likely at play, too. Take a look at the following video from Dr. Kaminski’s Florida colleague, Dr. Nate, who is also a myopia control specialist …
How We Can Help Manage Myopia
Since 2001, Dr. Kaminski has been a certified fitter of Paragon CRT (Corneal Refractive Therapy) lenses, a patented ortho-k technology.
These vision correction lenses are truly a cutting-edge treatment for myopia control.
CRT lenses can slow or even stop the progression of nearsightedness, and since they’re worn at night (temporarily changing the shape of the corneas), they allow for clear eyesight during the day without the need for daytime eyewear.
If you or a family member is living with myopia or have any other concerns about your eye health, we encourage you to contact Vision Source Firestone today to schedule a comprehensive eye exam with Dr. Kaminski. Please call us at (720) 966-2020 or schedule an appointment online.