Myopia Management In Arlington, VA

My Kid’s Got Myopia; What Now?

What Is Myopia?

Myopia, also called nearsightedness or shortsightedness, is the inability to see objects far away. It occurs when the eye grows too long from the front to back and causes the light to focus before it reaches the retina as opposed to directly on it. Myopia is the most common vision issue and will most likely start developing during childhood. Symptoms include squinting, headaches, eyestrain, and fatigue. If you suspect your child may have Myopia, contact us for effective Myopia management in Arlington, VA.

Myopia Risks

In addition to poor vision, Myopia also increases your child’s risk of certain eye diseases including retinopathy and Glaucoma.

We have seen an influx of such symptoms in recent years and researchers believe it is due to the increased amount of screen time.

Unless correctly managed, Myopia will progress and in many cases progress quickly.

Early detection, intervention, and treatment can help slow down and in some cases stop the progression of Myopia.

Myopia cannot be cured.

Treatment of Myopia

Traditionally glasses and or contact lenses are worn to correct the amount of Myopia a patent has at the time of the exam.

This is a great option for the patient’s current prescription but does not help with the detrition that will occur over the year until the next annual visit.

Our Doctors are proud to offer three alternative options:

• Overnight contact lenses – These are custom-made contact lenses that are worn while the child sleeps. During the night the lens is gently reshaping the front surface of the eye so once the lens is removed in the morning the patient is able to see clearly and to continue with normal daytime activities. The lenses must be worn every night.
• Daytime Soft Contact Lenses – This FDA-approved option called MiSight are soft lenses worn during the day much like traditional contact lenses, however, the unique optical design reduces the progression of Myopia when worn within the doctor’s specific guidelines.
• Prescription Eye drops or Atropine Therapy – A customized treatment plan for younger patients who may not be ready for contact lenses. Eye drops are put in the eyes before bedtime. Glasses and/or contact lenses will still be required during the day but the drops at night will be slowing down the progression.

Next Steps

You may still have questions or may not be sure which option will be best for your child.

Only you, the parents and our board-certified doctors can determine which treatment plan is best for your child. We will work together to get to know your child and their eyes before personalizing a plan.

Fill out the information below and our Myopia Consultant will reach out to you!